BERWICK – Betty Hovey, 84, died Sunday, Jan. 13, 2008, in Berwick, peacefully with family at her side, after a period of failing health. She was born June 13, 1923, in Atlanta, to Edward M. and Beatrice (Kircsh) Matsis Sr. Betty graduated from Nashua High School, Nashua, N.H., in 1941. Soon after, she worked at Grenier Air Field as part of the “Rosie the Riveters” work force, a job she was forever proud to speak of. She was a 50-year member of Eastern Star Lunar Chapter 126. In 1942, she married her husband of 31 years, Harold B. Hovey Jr. His work with the U.S. Customs took them many places, as they raised their family of six children. As a young woman in 1951, she enjoyed snowshoeing, hunting and fishing with him in Forest City, Limestone and Jackman. They moved to Calais in 1958 and built Hoveys Trailer Park in 1960. Another move came in 1973 to Buffalo, N.Y., where she lost her beloved husband and returned to Calais that same year to raise her family and continue the business they had begun which span 33 years. From 1979 to 1982, Betty resided in Aiea, Hawaii, where she enjoyed sailing, bridge parties, and her family and friends visiting. In 1982, she returned to Calais and ran the business until moving to Florida, in 1993, spending summers traveling north to Canada and seeing family and friends along the way, and winters at her home in Seminole, Fla. Betty was a very generous woman and helped whenever she could. She made continuous contributions to help the less fortunate, extensively to the Shriners. She was very proud of her Greek heritage and was very patriotic. She loved working on her family genealogy, sports immensely, the Olympics, traveling and antiques. Betty was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Harold B. Hovey Jr.; a daughter, Susan Diane Hovey; and loving companion, Millard R. “Russ” Somes. Betty leaves a brother, Edward Matsis Jr. of Port Levoca, Texas; a daughter, Virginia “Ginger” Rutherford of East Sandwich, Mass.; a daughter, Robin Wilhelm and her husband, Paul, of Midlothian, Va.; a son, James Dana Hovey and his wife, Thuy, of Pinellas Park, Fla.; a daughter, Patti Hovey and her husband, Michael Jenkins, of Berwick; a son, Todd Hovey and his wife, Bethany, also of Berwick; 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. A spring burial at Pine Grove Cemetery, Manchester, N.H., will be announced. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718 or www.cancer.org. Arrangements are in care of Laing-Bibber Funeral Chapel, 36 Rochester St., Berwick. www.bibberfuneral.com
BETTY HOVEY
