Elizabeth Davis Trombly

Elizabeth “Betsey” Gage Davis Trombly died unexpectedly at her home in Amherst, NH on September 14, 2014. The daughter of Donald Henry Davis and Dorothy Johnson Davis, Betsey was born on May 2, 1945 in Nashua, NH. A graduate of Milford High School in Milford, NH, Betsey earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Western College, Oxford, OH; Montessori Certification from Fairleigh Dickinson College, NJ; a Masters in Elementary Education from Rivier College, Nashua, NH; completed the NH Teacher Certification Program through Rivier College; and achieved certification through the Orton Gillingham Program. She joyfully taught adoring students at the Lexington (MA) Montessori School, the Lawrenceville (NJ) Montessori School and the Blue Hills (NJ) Montessori School. From 1979 through 1998 she worked at home as a full time homemaker and raised her two sons. Betsey was employed during the last seventeen years at the Brookline, NH school system as a reading specialist where she passionately advocated for the learning rights of her students. During these last several years she completely dedicated herself to improving the learning skills of her students and received much satisfaction by doing so. Throughout her life, Betsey was an active member of the Amherst Congregational Church. As a child she sang in the youth choir and attended Sunday school. As an adult she served as a Sunday school teacher, was a member of the Diaconate, and a member of the Search Committee. Additionally she served as chair of the Christian Education Committee and was a member of the Women’s Spirituality Group. In addition to being a lifelong teacher, Betsey was a lifelong learner and an avid reader of books of all kinds. She spent hours preparing innovative materials to help address the individual learning styles of her many students. Over the years, she participated in various book clubs and was an expert at the art of Origami. She is survived by a son, David Preston Trombly of Chicago, IL; two sisters, Carolyn Vatcher of Jackson, TN and her two daughters, Holly Trowbridge and Margaret Hargett, and a sister Margaret Trombly of South Royalton, VT and her children Michael Trombly and his wife Vicky; Matthew Trombly; and Jennifer Young and her husband Shane. She is also survived by nephews Stephen Crocker and his wife Brenda and children Riannon and Stephen, nephew Richard Crocker and his wife Libby and their children Andrea Bruneau, Heather Mason and Kimberly Crocker; and a niece Dorothy Crocker. Betsey’s son John Davis Trombly, for whom she had unconditional love, also died on September 14, 2014. Additionally, she is predeceased by her brother Preston Davis and her sister Jean Crocker. On March 20, 1976 she was married to Rodney Trombly. They moved to New Jersey and returned to Amherst in 1986. There were subsequently divorced in 1998. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, September 28, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. in the Amherst Congregational Church, 11 Church Street, Amherst, NH. A private burial service at the Meadowview Cemetery in Amherst will be held by the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dorothy Davis Scholarship Fund, to benefit a graduating Souhegan High School student, c/o Margaret Trombly; 294 Whitney Hill Road; South Royalton, VT 05068; or to the Amherst Congregational Church, Education Endowment Fund c/o Amherst Congregational Church of Amherst, UCC; 11 Church Street; Amherst, NH 03031.