Obituary of Mary Blackstone

Rotterdam - Mary E. "Betsy" Cary Blackstone, 85, passed away peacefully April 1, 2012, at home at the Father Leo Obrien Senior Apartments in Rotterdam, NY. Born in Cambridge, NY, Mrs. Blackstone graduated from Mont Pleasant High School, Schenectady, in 1945. After raising her family she was apprenticed as a draftsperson at General Electric Co. in the A&O Division, Schenectady. In later years Mary was personnel officer at Allstates Design and Development Co., Albany office covering New York and New England. She retired from General Dynamics, Electric Boat Division where she was engineering assistant at the Naval Facility in Rock City Falls, NY. Her technical work included team work for Xerox, NASA and mapping in many foreign countries. Betsy was proud to be a 30+ year member of the Captain Maxson Post #634 American Legion Auxiliary in Cambridge, NY; former associate member of the Lady's Auxiliary of Knights of St. John; former treasurer for the Ten-Eyck Schonowee Tenant Assoc., and a literary correspondent for the Eastern NY Pony Association and the Tri-County Pony Club. She was a founding member of both pony organizations and enjoyed competing in pony shows and pony harness racing at all the area county fairs; Altamont, Schaghticoke, Chatham and Rhinebeck. She was also active in the first years of the formation of Mohonasen Central School District in Rotterdam. Betsy was a wonderful mother and homemaker who was proud of her four children, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Her greatest joy in life was to be with her family. She was a loving inspiration to us all. She also enjoyed training and racing her harness pony Prince, playing bingo with her girlfriends and grandchildren, meals at Tops Diner, and sharing wise advice and stories with her family. She was adored and loved by her family. Mary is survived by her sister, Gloria Cary, Charlottesville, VA., and four children, Cheryl Alexander, Rotterdam, Philp E. (Judy) Blackstone, Rotterdam, Rev. Jerry (Terry) Blackstone, Rotterdam, and Mark Cary (Arlene De Siena) Blackstone, Guilderland; seven grandchildren, Christopher (Jennifer) Blackstone, Charlotte, NC, Katherine Blackstone, Rotterdam, Nathan (Deena) Blackstone, Madison, TN, David (Jennifer) Blackstone, Schenectady, Amanda Blackstone, Wilmington, DE, Alexandra Blackstone, Raleigh, NC, and Samuel Blackstone, Guilderland, NY. Also four great-grandchildren, Jacob Blackstone, Chase Blackstone, Natalie Blackstone and Oliver Blackstone. A memorial service will be held at Light of the World Christian Church, 28 Sparrowbush Rd., Latham, NY 12110 at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 5, 2012, the Rev. Augustus Vossey officiating. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made in her memory to Catholic Charities.