Concord, NH – With hearts full of gratitude and sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved Mother, Mary Elizabeth (Betty Gately) Tarr on September 29, 2026 at the Merrimack County Nursing Home. From humble beginnings during the Great Depression, Betty built a life defined by devotion. She was a devoted daughter, sister and wife to the late Kenneth Tarr, her husband of 65 years. She was a proud and guiding Mother of four children, a fun and loving grandmother and great grandmother, and a generous friend to many. She was immensely proud of the generations of the family that she and Ken created.
Betty was born in Concord’s south end to the late Frank Kelly Gately and Mary (Sears) Gately. She was a lifelong Concord resident, attending Concord schools and graduating from Concord High School.
After graduation, Betty worked as a medical secretary. She met and married Ken Tarr when he relocated to Concord after serving in World War II. Although she lived for the majority of her life on Beacon St. in the White’s Park neighborhood, she was always proud of being a “south end girl”. She dearly loved her modest Beacon St. home and her hometown of Concord.
During Ken’s tenure as Commandant at the NH Veterans’ Home, Betty held the title of Matron and helped Ken in hosting numerous functions at the facility. As he served in elected positions and in his volunteer work with veterans’ and other civic organizations, she supported him while managing a busy household. She was the pillar of our home.
Betty volunteered at Walker Elementary School and supported her children’s various sports and activities. She welcomed her children’s friends and other friends and neighbors into her home, with meals and home-baked treats always ready. She had dear friendships with many of her neighbors, delivering meals and goodies to them as well.
Throughout her life, Betty had a close and enduring bond with her sister, Margaret (Gately) Thorpe. They saw each other and/or talked on the phone every day. They fostered a close bond between their children, taking them on frequent adventures to ice skate and slide at White’s Park and to swim and picnic at state parks. Betty and Margaret had a very close group of friends with whom they gathered regularly, famously known as “Club”.
Betty was predeceased by her beloved husband, Ken, her sister, Margaret, and her young brother, Francis. She leaves her four children and her very large family: Thomas Tarr and his wife, Sandra, of Concord, Michael Tarr and his wife Diana, of Fairfax, Virginia, Tracey Tarr of Bow, and John Tarr and his wife, Carolyn, of North Falmouth, Mass. Betty leaves her grandchildren: Lori Derosier and her husband Mike, Derek Tarr and Gayle Miller, Colin Tarr and his wife, Charlotte, Alissa Tarr, Aaron Phinney and his wife, Kayla, Andrew Phinney, Rachel Wells, Liam Wells, Caitlyn Almeida and her husband, Andrew, Julia Tarr, and Isabel Tarr.
Betty leaves her great grandchildren: Jacob Derosier, Matthew Derosier, McKenzie Tarr, Chloe Tarr, Carter Tarr, Coleman Tarr, Xavier Evans, Vanessa Evans, Alina Phinney, Adalyn Phinney, Emily Almeida, Madelyn Almeida, Caleb Almeida, Lylah Almeida and Zachary Almeida. Betty also leaves her brother-in-law, Howard Thorpe of Concord, and her three treasured nieces, Kathy Haddock, Betsy Thorpe and Jackie Thorpe.
Over the past eight years, Betty received loving and supportive care from countless staff members at Merrimack County Nursing Home, for which she was extremely grateful. She enjoyed reconnecting with old friends and acquaintances from Concord and participating in many new activities. Recently, she received excellent additional supportive care from the staff of Brookhaven Hospice.
Betty’s family invites all to A Celebration of Life gathering on Monday, October 19th at Bennett Funeral Home in Concord. A visitation hour will begin at 10:00 am followed by the Celebration of Life service at 11:00 am. Following the Celebration of Life, a brief graveside service will take place at Blossom Hill Cemetery. At the conclusion, family and friends are invited to return to Bennett Funeral Home for light refreshments.
Betty’s family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Edna McKenna Trust Fund, Merrimack County Nursing Home, 325 Daniel Webster Highway, Boscawen, New Hampshire 03303, or to a charity of your choice.
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