Betsy Evans, 72, of Estes Park, Colo., and a longtime former resident of Newtown, died at her home March 12. Betsy Newcomb was born March 27, 1943, in Waukegan, Ill. Her parents were Dr Stanley and Miriam Nye Newcomb.

She graduated from North Haven High School and received a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Lesley College in Cambridge, Mass. She taught kindergarten and third grade in Allston, Natick, and Arlington, Mass.

On June 5, 1965 she married David Evans, in North Haven, Conn. The couple lived in the Greater Boston area, Monmouth County, N.J., Boulder, Colo., and Newtown.

In New Jersey, Ms Evans taught early elementary classes, and The Evanses led parenting classes and were presidents of the Family Education Center, devoted to the use of Adlerian principles in parenting.

In Newtown, she owned The Common Thread store where she taught needlework, created needlework designs, sold needlework supplies, and did custom framing. Ms Evans was a member of Embroiderers' Guild of America, and taught needlework, tatting, embroidery, and framing as part of a national teaching circuit. She designed and made porcelain dolls and their clothing.

She was senior deacon and co-chairperson of the Pastoral Search Committee of Newtown Congregational Church.

In 2003, they moved to Estes Park, where she was active in the Estes Park Newcomers Club and in the Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies, serving in the choir and on several committees. She played the dulcimer, contributing to the music at the Community Church several times.

Ms Evans was a Mayflower descendant and an avid genealogist. She was active in the Estes Park Genealogical Society, serving as its president for several years.

Her husband David of Estes Park; children and spouses Judy and Adam Bennett of Fort Collins, Colo., Christopher and Leigh Ann of Amherst, N.H., Bill and Molly of Monterey, Calif.; grandchildren Aislinn and Lindsay Evans and Sid and Vivian Bennett; and sisters Rae Iverson, and her husband Ron, of Surprise, Ariz., and Priscilla Newcomb of Winsted, Conn., survive Ms Evans. She was preceded in death by her parents.

A celebration of her life will take place Thursday, May 12, at 2 pm, at Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies.

Memorial donations may be made to the Genealogical Society of Estes Park or the charity of choice in care of Allnutt Funeral Service, 1302 Graves Avenue, Estes Park CO 80517.

To offer an online condolence visit www.allnutt.com.