Elizabeth May Keeler Ackerly, 85, of Mission, Texas; formerly of Roscoe, passed away on November 11, 2009 in Texas after suffering a stroke.

Mrs. Ackerly was born on October 10, 1924, in Youngsville, NY. She was a graduate of Youngsville Central School. Her first Job, away from Youngsville, was making bullets for WWII in Bridgeport, CT. She married Ed Ackerly in 1945 when he returned from the Pacific Theater of WWII. They lived in Brooklyn, where their first son Robert was born, a couple of years later they returned to Ed's hometown of Roscoe, NY ; where they raised their sons, Robert, Thomas and Scott.

Bette, as she was known, and Ed owned the Roscoe Dairy for many years. Bette was active in community affairs. She was a long time member of the Roscoe Rockland Garden Club, a past matron of Eastern Star, and was involved in many other committees and organizations. She was also a Teachers Aid at the Roscoe Central School.

Bette and Ed loved to camp, often spending a month each summer at the Beaverkill State Park while continuing to operate the dairy. When they sold the dairy, Bette and Ed spent winters in Florida and returned to Roscoe for the summers. They traveled extensively, visiting 48 states and all of the National Parks. While traveling they primarily lived in a tent. On one of their trips they stopped at the Bentsen Grove Resort in Mission, TX. They returned there for 27 more winters, becoming citizens of Texas. Their summers were spent in the Catskills with Thomas in Walton and on Plum Island with Scott in Newbury, Massachusetts.

Bette had a wonderful life.

She loved holidays – decorating her home, even if it was a tent, sending cards to all members of her expanding family. A good cook, her ginger snaps were famous, often presented as a welcomed gift. She loved her husband, was a great mother, a beloved grandmother and great-grandmother and a friend to all who knew her. She will be deeply missed.

On the evening before her stroke, she did one of her favorite things – a walk in the warm Texas air looking at the full moon.

Bette is survived by her husband of 64 years, Edward F. Ackerly; her son, Thomas Ackerly and his wife Deborah, Walton; mother of his children, Anna May and Chuck Husson, grandchildren, Casey (Everett) Tallman of Roscoe, Tamara (Skip) Powel of Roscoe, Thomas (Becky) Ackerly, Jr. of Roscoe; son, Scott Ackerly and wife Jean, grandchildren, Lily Ackerly and Julia Ackerly of Newberry Port, MA; nine great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild; brother, Donald Keeler and his wife Ronnie; sister in law, Francis Keeler; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her son Robert Acklery, her brothers, Edward, Leslie and George Keeler; and a sister Ruth Keeler Quinless.

A memorial service will be held at 1 PM Sunday November 29, 2009 at the Courtney Funeral Home, 25 Townsend Street, Walton, with the Rev. Jennifer Matison Juliano officating . A reception will follow at "The Barn" at the New Directions, Kerrs Creek Rd.(County Rt-21), Walton.

Condolences to the family may be made online by visiting www.courtneyfh.com or by visiting bette-ackerly.gonetoosoon.org/memorial/