ST. REGIS FALLS -- Betty Marguerite La Point passed away peacefully at Birch Bay Retirement Village in Bar Harbor, Maine on July 25, 2023, with her family by her side.
Betty was born in Fort Jackson, NY on March 23, 1930, daughter of the late Hiram Leo Snickles and Elizabeth Ives Snickles.
She graduated as salutatorian of North Lawrence High School class of 1947 then attended Marinello School of Cosmetology in Schenectady, N.Y. Upon graduation, she worked at S&K Beauty Shop in Potsdam until her marriage to Guy Donald (Don) La Point on July 14, 1949, at the Nicholville Methodist Church.
She also worked at beauty shops in Binghamton, NY, and New Milford, NJ.
Betty and Don settled in Poughkeepsie, NY in 1960 where they raised their five children.
One of Betty’s favorite spots was Barnegat Light on Long Beach Island, NJ where the family spent their annual summer vacations.
Don and Betty enjoyed 62 years of marriage until Don’s passing in 2012.
Betty had a natural talent and love for flower arranging and in 1981 she opened and operated “Floral Occasions”, a flower shop in Poughkeepsie, NY.
Upon retirement in 1993 she and Don moved to St. Regis Falls, NY, and devoted her time to volunteer work, providing many floral arrangements at the St. Regis Falls (SRF) Adult Center and the Trinity United Methodist Church.
She co-wrote a grant and secured the funding for the Senior Housing next to the SRF Adult Center.
She also ran a thrift shop at the Trinity United Methodist Church, taught craft classes at the SRF Adult Center, and served on the Advisory Board for the Office of Aging along with several boards at Trinity United Methodist Church.
She received the New York State Legislature Achievement Award for her “outstanding effort and dedication to the task of improving the quality of life for New York State Senior Citizens” in May 2002.
The SRF Adult Center gave her a Certificate of Appreciation in June 2021 in recognition of her many years of service, and in 2022 the SRF Adult Center formally thanked her for all her volunteer work over the years and for her “kindness and love, creating everlasting friendship and memories for everyone that came to the center”.
Betty is survived by daughters, Halcyon La Point (Gary Paul) of Billings, MT, and Michelle McCann (Bob) Bar Harbor, ME, sons, Douglas La Point (Maddalena) Marshfield, VT; and Dr. Jeffery La Point, Ithaca, NY; along with four grandsons, one granddaughter, and two great-grandchildren.
She was pre-deceased by her husband, Don La Point; son, Gary La Point; and brother, Charles Snickles.
The family would like to thank the Birch Bay Retirement Village for their loving care of Betty, and very special friends including the Don Barney family, Karen Pondysh, Marion Swarka, Faye Debuque, and Janet Stauffer.
A celebration of her life is planned for Betty this fall in St. Regis Falls, NY.
In lieu of flowers please send donations in her name to the Trinity United Methodist Church, the St. Regis Falls Adult Center, Alzheimer’s Association, or a charity of one’s choice.
