Millerton – Mary Anna Booth, 90, an eighty seven year resident of Millerton, NY most recently
of Rhinebeck, NY died peacefully on Monday, December 7, 2020 at The Thompson House
where she has resided in comfort for the past three years. She was surrounded by her loving
caregivers at the time of her passing.
Born June 3, 1930 in Sharon, CT she was the daughter of the late Henry W. and Henrietta
(Perotti) Shaffer. She graduated from Millerton High School in 1947 and married Donald T.
Booth on August 16, 1952 at the Smithfield Presbyterian Church in Amenia, NY. Together for
over sixty five years, Mary and Don operated the Booth Farm on McGhee Hill Road in
Millerton, a very successful dairy farm that had ties with the Town of North East for several
generations. Mary was an avid gardener and had a great fondness and concern for all animals.
Mary and Don were well known for their devotion to family and friends throughout their lives.
They semi-retired from dairy farming in 1990 but continued to care for their vast property with
great pride and much love in their later years. Mr. Booth died on December 9, 2017.
Mary was a decade’s long member of the Faith Bible Chapel of Shekomeko on Silver Mountain
Road in Millerton. Though small in stature she was at times larger than life with her “can do”
spirit and boisterous personality. Fearless in making her perspective known, she was an iconic
personality to the church fellowship. Mary and Don donated the land on which Faith Bible
Chapel now stands and they were both personally involved in the construction phase of the
ministry in 1998 and 1999 as well as many other ongoing activities. Mary worked diligently and
could be found at every Work Day, she was a living example of one of the Chapel family’s
purpose statements: Service is Love in Working Clothes!
Mary is survived by her sister, Elinor Duprey of Copake, NY and her husband Robert, several
loving nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, cousins and many dear friends. In
addition to her parents and her beloved husband, Mary was also predeceased by her dear brother,
Henry J. Shaffer and her loving sister, Elizabeth McGhee.
The family would like to thank all her friends who visited while at The Thompson House and
extend a special thank you to all Mary’s caregivers while she was in residence.
Graveside services and burial will take place on Saturday, December 12, 2020 at 11am at
Irondale Cemetery in Millerton, NY. Pastor William Mayhew will officiate. Facial coverings and
social distancing guidelines will be required. Memorial contributions may be made to the North
East Community Center Fresh Food Pantry, P.O. Box 35, Millerton, NY 12546 or Millerton Fire
Company, P.O. Box 733, Millerton, NY 12546. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Scott
D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY. To send an online condolence please
visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com.