Elizabeth Lucy Story

"Palmer / Belchertown - Elizabeth Lucy "Betty Lou" (Cook) Story, 96, died peacefully at her home on September 10, 2019, surrounded by the love and care of family and the most loving and giving caregivers. Born August 23, 1923 on the kitchen table of her grandparents farm in Belchertown, she was the daughter of Jacob Howell and Myrtle (Parish) Cook. Betty grew up in Belchertown and graduated from its high school, in a distinctly different era, with a graduating class of perhaps 20, and she was proud to say she was its first cheerleader! Following high school, she went to beauty academy and was a hairdresser in her family's home for several years. It was located on the common in Belchertown, in what became the original Beers & Story Belchertown Funeral Home (now Dr. Drewniak's Chiropractor office). Shortly after her marriage to Herbert Story on August 14, 1948, Betty and Herb relocated to Palmer, when Herb joined Bert L. Beers to form Beers & Story Funeral Home, where Betty lived until her death. Betty entrenched herself in the Palmer community, and was a "not so silent" partner to her husband as they established themselves in Palmer. She was a longtime member of Second Congregational Church and was involved in various capacities over the years, mostly having to do with entertaining and making people laugh. She "produced" many shows for what used to be "Couples Club" and will be long remembered for her skits, jokes, costumes and characters. Her love of music was also a big part of her life and she could be counted on to be at the piano if at all possible, singing and, of course, entertaining. A long time member of the Thomas Lodge and Vernon Lodge Order of the Eastern Star, Betty held many offices during her life, including being the organist for many years. Additionally, she joined the Palmer Women's Club, the Wing Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and performed for and supported those organizations for all of her healthy life. Betty was always good for the entertainment value of a round of golf, mostly at Quaboag Country Club, as well as for comedic relief on long bus rides to Atlantic City with the Palmer Rotary Club. She will be deeply missed by her 3 daughters and their families, Wendy Story and her husband Marc Gaudreau of Wilbraham, Susan Freeman and her husband Jimmy of Palmer, and Beth Story of Upton, MA, along with her granddaughter Alyssa Boyko and her husband Greg of Belchertown. The lineage of girls continued in the births of her 2 precious great granddaughters, Hannah Kate and Lucy Marie Boyko. Besides her parents, Betty was predeceased by her husband Herbert Story in 1996 and her older brother, Harold P. Cook in 2010. Calling hours will be Sunday, September 15, 2019 from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm at the Beers & Story Palmer Funeral Home, 1475 N. Main St.. Betty's funeral will be held on Monday at 11:00 a.m. at the Second Congregational Church, 1080 Pleasant St, Palmer followed by burial in South Cemetery, Belchertown. For those wishing to honor her memory and the love and connection Betty had to the church in her life, the family requests that donations be made to Second Congregational Church Christian Education or Music Program. For more information or to sign the online guest book, please visit www.beersandstory.com."