Obituary of Rev. Elizabeth Foster Mowry
SARATOGA SPRINGS -
Elizabeth Suydam Foster Mowry , 80 years old, passed away on September 20, 2024 in Saratoga Springs surrounded by family. Betsye was born August 5, 1944, in Jamaica, NY, to Elizabeth Pauline Moore Foster and Percival Edwin Foster. She grew up in Suffolk County, Long Island and was an active athlete, leading student, and church member.
She received her license to preach in 1962 from the Brooklyn South District, NY East Conference and attended Syracuse University where she fell in love with John Freeman Mowry. They were married September 6, 1964.
Receiving her BA and MSLS from Syracuse, she then enrolled in Drew Theological School, where she gave birth to Jacquil Augusta in December 1967. Due to campus upheavals at Drew, she transferred to, and graduated from, Iliff School of Theology in Denver. While there she gave birth to Shawn Freeman in December 1968 and Alyssa Lone in May 1970. She pastored in Hillsdale, Wyoming while in seminary.
Graduating in May, 1970, the family moved back to New York where she received an appointment in the Northern New York Conference of the United Methodist Church to Great Bend and Champion and where she was ordained an elder and received as the first female full member of the conference. From here she moved on to pastor over the next 54 years at Alexandria Bay and Redwood, Madrid and West Potsdam, Beaver Falls and Beaver Valley, Pulaski, Oneida, and Malta Ridge. Her current, and final, appointment is as pastor at Ballston Spa.
Her passions included emergency medical services, her clergy colleagues, her children and grandchildren, and Jesus Christ.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Skye Farm Camp & Retreat Center Foundation, 1884 E. Schroon River Rd., Warrensburg, NY 12885.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the Mowry Family, online at: SimpleChoicesCremation.com
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