Betty J. Dossey

Betty J. Dossey, of Contoocook, NH, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 26, 2025. She was 97.

She was born in Abilene, Texas, on August 6, 1927. In her teens, she spent many happy nights at USO dances, doing the jitterbug. She married her first husband, Henry R. Simonds, Jr., at 17, and lived in many states over her life including Washington, Florida, New York, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, and Arizona. She held several jobs including working in a factory making ammunition boxes for the war, as a secretary, phone switchboard operator, and retail clothes shop assistant, but her main occupation was homemaker. She raised two children. She also taught Sunday school, and volunteered as den mother for a Boy Scout troop.

She married her third husband, Ray Dossey, in 1967. They moved to a camp in Tow, Texas, by Lake Buchannan, and spent many happy years fishing and spending time with neighbors. She was active in her church and attended many community fish fries and other events.

After Ray’s passing, she moved to New Hampshire to be closer to her children and grandchildren. She cherished them and was very proud of them, spending many joyful years attending birthdays, holidays, and other special family gatherings. She was also active in her church and at the Slusser Senior Center in Contoocook.

She loved playing bingo and cards with friends, and putting together jigsaw puzzles. She also loved reading and collected hundreds of books. Reading the daily newspaper was an important part of her morning, and she always worked on the crossword puzzle. She also enjoyed the company of her pet parakeets. Going to the beach, shopping, and going to yard sales and flea markets were other favorite pastimes. Her favorite meals were boiled lobster, and Mexican food with margaritas.

She cherished all animals and nature, especially birds and trees. The red Cardinal was her favorite. She also loved gardening, spending many hours canning vegetables and making fruit preserves and jams. She loved people and was always smiling at everyone she passed. She was a proud Texan, always calling it home, as she loved it dearly. Nevertheless, as dear as it was to her, she fell in love with New England as a young mother and said she wanted to be buried where the snow would fall on her grave.

She leaves to mourn her passing, her two children, Henry R. Simonds, III, of Dowling Park, Florida, and Nola I. Frost, of Concord, NH. She also leaves three grandchildren, Jeremy J. Frost, of Bow, NH, Daniel P. Frost, of Concord, NH, and Liane R. Whittum, of Hill, NH. In addition, she leaves three great grandchildren, Autumn Frost, Finnegan Frost, and Liliane Whittum.

A private graveside service will be held at the Contoocook Village Cemetery at a later date. Gifts may be made in her memory to NH Audubon, 84 Silk Farm Road Concord, NH 03301. Their website is nhaudubon.org.