Elizabeth Adelaide Best

Elizabeth Adelaide “Betty” Best, nee Mueller, 92, passed away peacefully at home, with her family by her side, on Sunday, May 28, 2023.

Betty was born February 28, 1931, and grew up in Long Island, NY, Betty was an active member of the school community, participating in sports, cheer, and music programs. After high school, she went to work for the family business, Mueller Belting and Specialty Co. as its business manager. An accomplished piano and organ player, she also played professionally at night at clubs and at a local roller rink in the Long Island area. She had a love of travel, adventure, and loved to tell the story of her trip to Europe on the Queen Mary at age 23, after saving her own money to finance the trip.

Once a mom, Betty worked to support her family and the community. She led Girl Scout troops for many years and volunteered many summers as a Girl Scout Day Camp Leader. She devoted herself to remedial reading with educationally challenged students at the Pearl River Middle School, in Pearl River, NY, for seventeen years, and for several years at night, worked as a nurse’s aide at Nyack Hospital - until caring for her own mother at home.

Retiring from the school system at age 56, Betty went to work as a production editor and book compositor at Prentice Hall Publishing (later Pearson Education), until she was 71.

Once fully retired, she moved to Pensacola, FL, where she spent her time with her daughter, or gardening, and doting on her beloved dogs, Sparky and Bailey.

Betty was a loving daughter, wife, sister-in-law, mother, aunt, grandmother, and a friend to many. Her kindness and generosity were exhibited daily, as was her sense of humor and indomitable work ethic. She spent her life in charity and in support of others. Working with children was the contribution she was most proud of.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 32 years, Howard J. Best, in 1987.

Survivors include her children, daughter Lisa Best of Pensacola FL and Lisa’s longtime partner Hoy (Bucky) Lindsey II; son Michael Best of Rockford, MI, her beloved daughter-in-law, Marilyn Best, and grandchildren Polina and Johnny Best. She is also survived by her beloved nephew Edward Best, wife Renee Levesque, grandniece Corey Best of Palisades Park, NJ, and her niece Patricia (Best) Field, husband Clifton Field and grandnephews Clifton and Jason Field of New Jersey.

The family is planning a memorial service in Pearl River, NY this Fall (details to announced).

In lieu of flowers please consider gifts to the following charitable organizations: The Conductive Learning Center, https://conductivelearningcenter.org/ , The Wounded Warrior Project,  http://woundedwarriorproject.org/ and The Bissell Pet Foundation, https://www.bissellpetfoundation.org/. 

The family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Katherine Price, Gentiva Hospice, Synergy HomeCare of Pensacola, Tammy Gradel, Janice Mayo, and the Moroney family.