HOULTON – M. Elizabeth “Betty” Fowler, RN, 82, passed away Feb. 11, 2005. She was born April 11, 1922, at Houlton, the daughter of Harry and Mary “Minnie” (Paul) Fowler. Betty attended St. Mary’s School and graduated from Houlton High School. She later continued her education and passed her exam at the Boston University. She was a member of the Saint Mary’s Catholic Church and was a eucharistic minister. She began work at the Madigan Memorial Hospital as director of Medical Records, from 1947 until 1959. During this time she developed and organized the Medical Records Dept. and under her direction the department was state accredited. She was a consultant to the Mars Hill Hospital, Millinocket Hospital, Calais Memorial Hospital and the Patten Clinic. She then moved to New York and worked at the Flushing Hospital as assistant director of Medical Records and served as a consultant for the Lutheran Hospital in Brooklyn and the Jamaica Hospital in New York. Upon her return to Houlton in 1962, she also developed and organized the Aroostook General Hospital’s Medical Records Department, which also became state accredited. In 1972, she combined Aroostook General and Madigan Memorial’s record departments which also became accredited. During her career she served as president of the Maine Medical Record Assoc. for two years and served four years on the executive board and was a member of the Professional Standards Review Organization for Maine for four years and was a member of the Long Term Planning Committee for Maine. She was appointed to the Federal Health Program for the State of Maine as a representative. Each State appointed their own representative to the P.A.S. and USERS Group in Augusta. She was appointed to the Liason Group for the Pine Tree Organization for Professional Standards Review and served as President of the Aroostook County Medical Record Assoc. and also served on the Executive Board for the New England Medical Record Assoc. She was a member of the National Registry of Medical Secretaries Assoc. and the Maine Library Assoc. and served on the Aroostook and Senior Volunteer Program. Betty is survived by two sisters-in-law, Stella Fowler and Marion Fowler; two special nieces, Joanne Carpenter and Darlene Longstaff; two special nephews, John Fowler and Kevin Fowler, as well as many other nieces and nephews. She also had some very special friends belonging to her Coffee Group. She was predeceased by three brothers, Harold, Herschel “Hal” and John “Jack” Fowler; and one sister Marion “Toney” Fowler Cassidy. Friends may call at the Dunn Funeral Home Tuesday from 9 a.m. until the time of departure 10:45 a.m. for Saint Mary’s Catholic Church where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Eddy Morin celebrant. Gifts may be made in Betty’s memory to the St. Mary’s Church, the Houlton Humane Society or charity of one’s choice care of Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park St., Houlton, ME 04730.
M. ELIZABETH FOWLER
