Elizabeth Betsy Poutasse

Elizabeth Betsy(Miller) PoutasseA memorial service for Elizabeth Betsy (Miller) Poutasse, 86, of Munson Township, will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007, at the Community Church of Chesterland, 11984 Caves Road, Chester Township.Mrs. Poutasse passed away Aug. 23, 2007, at Heather Hill Hospital in Munson Township.Born March 19, 1921, in Boston, Mass., she lived in Concord, Mass., before moving to Munson Township in 1948.Betsy should be remembered as a dedicated mother of four children and their biggest sports fan. She was a teacher, poll judge and worker, and a political activist. Betsy was an active marcher for peace, justice, civil rights, and fair wages for farm workers. She was a member of the Chardon School Board and served as president of the Geauga County League of Women Voters. She was an early feminist and a founder of Womensafe. She served as a volunteer of COPE line, and donated over 13 gallons of blood and recruited others to donate. She was named the JC Penney Volunteer of the Year in 1985 from Greater Cleveland and in 1990 was named Outstanding Volunteer by the Geauga United Way Services Council for her work with Womensafe. Both Betsy and her husband, Charlie, were recognized as Citizens of the Year in 1988 by Munson Township. Betsy was an enthusiastic hiker and camper, having climbed several 14,000 foot peaks, including Mt. Rainier and Longs Peak in Colorado. She hiked Wonderland Trail around Mt. Rainier and most of the Long Trail in Vermont. She was an active member of the Chesterland Community Church in Chester Township.Mrs. Poutasse served on the Chardon Board of Education from 1968-69.Survivors are her husband, Charles A. Charlie Poutasse of Munson Township; daughters, Ann (Frank) Ballinger of Porter, Ind., and Margaret (David Porter) Poutasse of Cleveland Heights; sons, Charles A. (Judy) Poutasse of Lake Oswego, Ore., and Douglas (Elaine) Poutasse of Wellesley, Mass.; grandchildren, Frank (Diana) Ballinger of Naples, Fla., David Ballinger of Chesterton, Ind., Patrick Ballinger of Porter, Ind., Mary Ballinger of Porter, Ind., Elizabeth Porter of Cleveland Heights, James Porter of Cleveland Heights, Lauren Poutasse of Wellesley, Mass., Nicole Poutasse of Wellesley, Mass., Rachel Poutasse of Lake Oswego, Ore., and Carolyn Poutasse of Lake Oswego, Ore.She is preceded in death by her parents, Douglas and Adele (Fitzpatrick) Miller; sister, Katrina Tadema-Wielandt; and brother, Alanson Miller.The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the church. The Rev. Pam Branscome of the church will officiate the service. A private family burial will be in Concord, Mass. at a later date.