Obituary of Beth M. Stone

" Beth M. (Bissell) Stone, 94, of Breckenridge St. passed away on the evening of Tuesday, January 16, at home with her family at her side. She was one month shy of her 95th year. Beth was born in a farmhouse in Goshen, MA to Herbert Hunt Bissell and Mertie Ella (Bisbee) Bissell. She was educated in the Goshen and Williamsburg, MA schools and in her teens moved to Springfield to assist in the care of her aunt and uncle, F. Herbert Thayer and Eleanor Bissell Thayer. It was during this time that Beth became a hairdresser and worked at LeMaison and Gerry’s Beauty Salons both in Springfield. She married Gordon Rockwood Stone of Ashland, MA on February 11, 1933 and lived in West Springfield until losing most of their belongings in the 1936 flood. They relocated to Palmer where Beth was active in St. Paul’s Universalist Church where she has been an active member for over 60 years she was the oldest Active member of St. Paul’s. She was President of it’s Fortnightly Club, President of the Ladies’ Social union, a member of the Social Action Committee which provided free monthly community meals, and was a long-term member of the church choir. She was a member of James W. Hannum Chapter, OES, the only living charter member of the Bela Grotto auxiliary, a former member of the Mother’s Club of Pioneer Valley Chapter, Order of DeMolay, a former member of the advisory board for Ware Assembly, Rainbow Girls. When her children were younger, she was active in both Boy and Girl Scouts. She is a member of the Palmer Republican Town Committee and Palmer Senior Citizens Club. Beth was a very vibrant person always ready for fun. She loved working in her gardens, reading, doing ceramics and other crafts (including bread & butter pickles) until she lost her eyesight to macular degeneration several years ago. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, her sisters Dorothy B. Rhodes and Barbara F. Richardson both of Goshen; two brothers Richard M. Bissell of West Groton and Herbert H. Bissell, Jr. of Greenfield. She is survived by her son, Gordon E. (Gene) Stone and his wife, Sarah (Lombard) and her daughter, Barbara J. Stone all of Palmer; Her grandchildren George F. Stone and his wife Tracy of Portland, ME; Tricia Arling and her husband Tim of Cromwell, Ct. Great-Grandchildren Colton J. Stone and Brandon T. Stone and their mother, Barbara McLean Stone of Lewiston, ME; Jennifer L. Arling and Allison M. Arling of Cromwell, CT and Alec McLaughlin of Portland, ME. Also surviving are two brothers J. Warren Bissell and his wife Adouilda of Jacksonville, FL and Homer R. Bissell and his wife Audrey of Goshen; sisters-in-law Lois Bissell of Greenfield and Zellah Stone Thompson (100 yrs. Old) of Ashland, MA, thirty-five nieces and nephews, plus many great and great-great nieces and nephews will miss her at family events. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 27, 2007 at 11;15 a.m. at St. Paul’s Church. Burial will be private. Donations in her memory may be made to St. Paul’s Church Fire Alarm Fund, c/o Barbara J. Stone, 1060 Central St. or to Quaboag Valley Hospice, 42B Wright St., Palmer, Ma 01069. "