Betsy H. Debevoise, 97
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Betsy Hart Debevoise, 97, of Williamstown, died peacefully at home on Sunday, May 23, 2010.
Born in Williamstown on July 27, 1912, daughter of professor William Howard Doughty and Lydia Vail Doughty, she was a 1930 graduate of the Concord Academy, and also studied in Geneva, Switzerland.
Mrs. Debevoise was active in the community, reading to children at Pine Cobble and Hancock schools for many years as well as to the blind. Each summer, she hosted a picnic and treasure hunt for the children of the Williamstown Community Preschool.
She was a member of First Congregational Church and the Friday Club. She was a founding member of the Women's Exchange and of the Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation.
Her husband, Robert Lord Debevoise, whom she married on Feb. 24, 1938, in Thompson Memorial Chapel, is deceased.
She leaves her nieces and their husbands, Helen and Robin Lester of Pawling, N.Y., Elida and Harvard Wilson of Olympia, Wash., and Mary and Max Rendall of London; her nephews and their wives, William and Nadine Doughty of Evanston, Ill., Anthony and Patricia Doughty of Walker, Minn., Stephen and Jean Doughty of Otsego, Mich., Phillip Doughty of Catania, Sicily, and Geoffrey and Pamela Doughty of Lyman, Maine, nine great-grandnieces and nephews and 13 great-great-grandnieces and nephews.
She was predeceased her brothers and their wives.
FUNERAL NOTICE— There will be a private burial service for Mrs. Debevoise on Saturday, May 29, at Westlawn Cemetery. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Aug. 14, at 2 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Williamstown. All wishing to attend will surely be welcome.
In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the charity of the donor's choice in care of Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams, MA 01247.