Betty Louise Reed

On the evening of Tuesday, June 25, 2024, Betty Louise Reed from Center Ossipee, NH passed away peacefully. She was 93.

Betty was born in the Melrose Hospital, Melrose, MA on January 23, 1931, the daughter of Robert Waldo Vinton and Florence Gertrude Barnes. She was the third child with sisters Jean Mitchell and Doris Hunter, who both passed away in 2000. After graduating from Melrose High in 1948, she worked as a Page at the Bank of Boston. Betty married William Chalmer Reed on September 16, 1951, at the New London Baptist Church, New London, NH.

Soon after their marriage, Betty and Bill headed to Illinois to manage a farm where Betty helped with farm chores, and cooked 3 full meals a day for Bill and the help. After 10 months, now a family of three, they returned to New London NH where they spent the next five years raising a family. A career change for her husband took her to Penacook, then Concord, and ultimately Center Ossipee where they spent the next fifty years.

Betty was a loving, independent, and hardworking person. Her life centered around her husband, her family, and the church. She worked in a first-grade classroom as a Title 1 Reading Aide at the Ossipee Central School in Center Ossipee, NH for many years. She was active in the First Congregational Church of Center Ossipee, always baking, helping at Bible Camp, and singing in the choir. But Betty’s favorite time was with her children and grandchildren. She attended games and concerts; and drove them to the lake, lessons, and out for ice cream. Her brightest smile was for newborns.

Betty always welcomed all to her home. Whether it was a weekday or Thanksgiving, she welcomed you with open arms, offered you something to eat and truly made you feel at home. Betty created many wonderful family traditions that will live on for generations, Easter egg hunts, visits to the local amusement park and board games that were enjoyed by all and are being carried forward by the children and grandchildren.

Betty was a great cook. Many of her recipes are closely guarded secrets by the family and continue to be enjoyed. Her most famous Christmas cookies were even served at one of her kid’s weddings.

Betty loved to travel and her husband Bill loved his motorcycle, so they traveled extensively on the motorcycle across the US for many years, receiving awards for the bike that had traveled the longest distance and the most senior riders at many of the events. If you asked Betty if she wanted to go somewhere, she said yes, before you could even say the destination.

She was a kind and loving wife of 70+ years. They were usually seen walking hand-in-hand until Bill passed away in October of 2021. Betty conquered the challenge of living without her lifetime partner for three years and was an active, much-loved resident at the Mountain View Nursing Home in Ossipee, NH.

Betty is survived by her children: Richard (Jennifer) Reed, Michael (Bonnie) Reed, Carol Sanders-Reed, and John (Tammy) Reed and 12 grandchildren.

The Celebration of Life Service will be at 10:00 am on Friday, July 12, 2024 at the First Congregational Church of Ossipee, Center Ossipee, NH. A reception will follow.

The Family, in lieu of flowers, has suggested that donations in her memory be made to the First Congregational Church of Ossipee (www.firstossipee.org) or Ossipee Children’s Fund (OCFNH.org).

Lord Funeral Home of Wolfeboro, NH, is in charge of the arrangements.

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