Elizabeth "Betty" Yvonne Howard Linzee, 99
Elizabeth "Betty" Yvonne Howard Linzee, born in Montpelier, France on March 19, 1926, passed away on November 15, 2025, at the age of 99 after a very long and active life of caring and service. At the time of her death, she was living in a cottage at her younger son’s home in Marion, MA; three generations of her family were at her bedside to send her off. Betty is survived by her four children: Thomas E. Linzee Jr., Gail Linzee Reitter, George Howard Linzee, Carol Anne Drastal-Chan; nine grandchildren; and twelve great-grandchildren.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband Thomas Edward Linzee, her father George Parker and stepmother Alice Kennedy Howard of Marion and her mother and stepfather, Eleanor Spooner and John Roger Crawford of Portland ME. She was also preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Walter Scott and Mini Parker Howard, former professional actors who settled permanently in their homestead farm in the village of Buzzards Bay, MA.
As a young child Betty spent summers at her grandfather’s farm where she learned to sail under her father’s guidance on Buttermilk Bay and attended the opening of the Bourne Bridge with her grandfather who as a longtime town selectman presided at the event. She learned to speak French fluently from her father who was a French teacher for many years at the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut. As a teenager, she spent summers in Marion where she made friends with the boys attending Tabor summer camp while her father assisted Bill Maxwell with the Tabor sailing program and the vestry renovation in the basement of the First Congregational of Marion. During the school year she lived in Boston with her mother and grandmother, attended Brimmer and May School, and met and started dating Thomas E. Linzee. Betty and Tom were married October 23, 1943, in Laredo, TX where he was stationed in the US Army Air Corps. He deployed to England in August 1944 and completed 25 bombing missions as a B-17 radio operator. He survived being shot down on his last mission and was missing in action for a month. Their first child Thomas Jr. was born while he was overseas. Betty cherished her involvement with the 388th Bomb Group Association and formed lasting relationships with fellow veterans and their families.
After the war, Betty, Tom Sr., Tom Jr and Gail moved from Boston to Port Jefferson, NY where George and Carol Anne were born. During their years on Long Island, the couple owned and managed the Smithtown Tennis and Pool Club until it tragically burned down. They were also partners in the Royal Delicatessen in the Village of Port Jefferson. Betty's love for numbers led her to become a teller at the Suffolk County Savings and Loan Association in Smithtown, NY. Over the years, she attended various night classes in New York City, climbed the ranks, and eventually retired as a bank manager and Vice President of the Astoria Federal Bank.
During her time on Long Island, Betty taught her husband and children to sail, and the family raced a 24’ Raven and then a Pearson 30 competitively with the Setauket Yacht Club. At the age of 65, she decided to take up wind surfing.
Betty's dedication to her two communities was remarkable. She actively participated in numerous organizations, including the Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, where she served on the Beautification Committee. As treasurer of the Setauket Yacht Club, Betty contributed to its success through her involvement in the Building and Finance Committee. She was a devoted member of the First Presbyterian Church, sang in the choir, and served on the finance and budget committee. Betty was also a speaker and volunteer coordinator at the Brookhaven Women's Center and served for 17 years on the Village of Port Jefferson Board of Zoning Appeals.
After her retirement, Betty and Tom took care of her father until he passed and then moved into his home on Zora Road in Marion, MA. After returning to Marion, she again became a committed member of the First Congregational Church where she served on a pastor selection committee and became well known organizing volunteers for the annual church fair blueberry harvest.
She always had a passion for reading and history. She was an active member of the Woman's Study Club of Port Jefferson and the Port Jefferson Historical Society from 1967-1996. Betty enjoyed being a founding member of the Long Island Anna Smith Strong Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), a 54-yr member of the National DAR, and an active member of the New Bedford, MA DAR chapter. She was also a member of the Mayflower Society (7 descendants) and from 2013-2020 was a docent for the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Betty loved music, especially opera and regularly went to performances in NYC and Boston.
Memories of Betty's vibrant personality, love of learning, and dedication to her family and community will be cherished by those who had the privilege of knowing her.
A celebration of life memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM on July 18th, 2026, at the First Congregational Church, Marion, MA where Betty was a member for 19 years. A reception in the Church Community Center will follow immediately after the service.
Arrangements by Chapman Funerals & Cremations – Wareham. To leave a message of condolence visit: www.chapmanfuneral.com
