Betsey Westbury Johnson Forrence passed peacefully to heaven on October 23, 2012. Born May 5, 1936 in Washington, D.C., she was the daughter of the late Ellis A. Johnson and Alice L. Johnson, and sister of Peter B. Johnson.
Betsey graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School and from Cornell University College of Agriculture with a degree in Animal Science. Soon after college she married Leonard Forrence and started a family. She also began farming in Mt. Airy, Maryland, primarily raising sheep but also horses, cows, pigs, chicken and peafowl. At one time Betsey had the largest sheep farm in Maryland.
When her children grew older, Betsey began working at Eastalco then at Hood College in the biology department. She attended the University of Maryland School of Law in the evening and graduated in 1979. Most of her legal career was spent working for the Baltimore City Department of Social Services where she focused on the needs of at-risk children. Betsey retired to life on the farm in Emmitsburg, MD with Leonard in 2001. This past June they celebrated 55 years of marriage. Betsey has enjoyed raising poultry, spending time with her children and grandchildren, gardening, and being looked after by her border collie, Maddy.
She has taken great delight in her children; Margaret Forrence (who predeceased her in 1987), Sharon E. Forrence, of Washington, DC, Jennifer Forrence and her husband Louis Whitcomb of Baltimore, Michael Forrence and his wife Sharon L. Forrence of Emmitsburg, and Catherine Forrence and her husband Darrin Leverette of Emmitsburg. Betsey is also blessed with four grandchildren; Christopher Forrence, of Atlanta, Georgia, Alexander Forrence, of Baltimore, and Adam Forrence Leverette and Shepherd Forrence Leverette, both of Emmitsburg.
A mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, October 26th at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 47 DePaul St, Emmitsburg, MD with the Rev. Charles F. Krieg, C.M. as celebrant. Interment will follow at Emmitsburg Memorial Cemetery. The family will receive friends 6:00 - 9:00 pm Thursday at Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home, 210 W. Main St. in Emmitsburg. Prayer will be offered at 8:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests you consider a donation to Seton Center in Emmitsburg, Hospice of Frederick County or the charity of your choice.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Betsey Forrence, please visit our flower store.
Betsey graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School and from Cornell University College of Agriculture with a degree in Animal Science. Soon after college she married Leonard Forrence and started a family. She also began farming in Mt. Airy, Maryland, primarily raising sheep but also horses, cows, pigs, chicken and peafowl. At one time Betsey had the largest sheep farm in Maryland.
When her children grew older, Betsey began working at Eastalco then at Hood College in the biology department. She attended the University of Maryland School of Law in the evening and graduated in 1979. Most of her legal career was spent working for the Baltimore City Department of Social Services where she focused on the needs of at-risk children. Betsey retired to life on the farm in Emmitsburg, MD with Leonard in 2001. This past June they celebrated 55 years of marriage. Betsey has enjoyed raising poultry, spending time with her children and grandchildren, gardening, and being looked after by her border collie, Maddy.
She has taken great delight in her children; Margaret Forrence (who predeceased her in 1987), Sharon E. Forrence, of Washington, DC, Jennifer Forrence and her husband Louis Whitcomb of Baltimore, Michael Forrence and his wife Sharon L. Forrence of Emmitsburg, and Catherine Forrence and her husband Darrin Leverette of Emmitsburg. Betsey is also blessed with four grandchildren; Christopher Forrence, of Atlanta, Georgia, Alexander Forrence, of Baltimore, and Adam Forrence Leverette and Shepherd Forrence Leverette, both of Emmitsburg.
A mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, October 26th at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 47 DePaul St, Emmitsburg, MD with the Rev. Charles F. Krieg, C.M. as celebrant. Interment will follow at Emmitsburg Memorial Cemetery. The family will receive friends 6:00 - 9:00 pm Thursday at Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home, 210 W. Main St. in Emmitsburg. Prayer will be offered at 8:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests you consider a donation to Seton Center in Emmitsburg, Hospice of Frederick County or the charity of your choice.