Betty Emerson Towle

BIDDEFORD – Betty Emerson Towle, 86, passed away peacefully on July 29, 2025, surrounded by her family and friends, after a long battle with cancer. Betty was born at her family home in Orleans, Vt. on April 8, 1939, and grew up in Brownington Center, Vt., a daughter of Richard Ovis Emerson and Lennie Mae (Thompson) Emerson.

Betty graduated with honors from Orleans High School and went on to study nursing at Maine Medical Center School of Nursing in Portland, Maine where she obtained her RN. She took the train from Vermont to Portland right after high school and lived in Portland while she worked and studied to be a nurse. Betty went on to get her certificate in Nursing Management in 1963 from Boston College.

Throughout her professional career, Betty served as Relief Charge Nurse in the Special Care Unit at Maine Medical, Head Nurse at Emerson Hospital in Concord, Mass., Evening Charge Nurse at Westbrook Community College in Westbrook, Maine, Day Charge RN on the Chemical Dependency Unit at Jackson Brook Institute in South Portland, Maine, Clinical Nursing Supervisor in the Dual Diagnostic Unit, Chemical Dependency Unit, and Psychiatric Unit at Jackson Brook Institute, Nurse Manager at Falmouth by the Sea, and, RN Nurse Office Manager at Maine Geriatrics. Betty retired just shy of her 85th birthday.

Betty married the love of her life, Elliott Bradbury Towle, on August 15, 1964. Betty was devoted to her family throughout her life and served many years as caregiver to many including her mother, Lennie Emerson and her husband, Brad Towle. Family and faith were a main focus of her life. She and her husband took in many family members, friends and strangers throughout her life to give them a place to live and support that they needed. Betty enjoyed sending cards/letters to loved ones, making lists for herself and others, crocheting blankets for her grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, reading, dancing, and enjoying local music.

Betty was predeceased by her husband, Elliott Bradbury Towle, mother, Lennie Mae Emerson, and father, Richard Ovis Emerson. She is survived by her sister, Mary Lou Stenberg; her children, Laurie Grant and her husband Peter, Jon Towle and his wife Wendy and Stephen Towle and his wife Mazie. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Cory, Erica, Krystal, Meg and Lily; as well as great grandchildren, Maleeya, Hayden, Stella, Thomas, Brylee, Cedar, and Atlas Luna.

Visiting hours will be held 1 – 3 p.m. August 8 at Tuttle Road Community Church in Cumberland followed by a service at 3 p.m. with a reception following. Burial will be on Friday, August 15 at 9 a.m. at South Buxton (Tory Hill) Cemetery.

Online condolence messages can be submitted at the Poitras Funeral Homes website, http://www.mainefuneral.com

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in memory of Betty Emerson Towle to support cancer research and patient care at:

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

P.O. Box 849168

Boston, MA 02284

or via dana-farber.org/gift