Betty L. (Dorsey) Myers, 94 and a lifelong resident of Gettysburg, PA, passed away peacefully on April 10, 2026, at Linden Village Memory Care in Lebanon, PA.
Born in Mt. Airy, MD, on September 15, 1931, to the late Dorothy B. (Dorsey) Adams and George E. Cook, she moved to Gettysburg at the age of 4, attended the White Run one-room school, the High Street School, and graduated from Gettysburg High School in 1949. She is predeceased by her husband, Adam J. Myers, Jr, son Adam J. Myers III, her brothers Ira Dorsey and George Cook, Jr., sisters Grace M. (Williams) Jamison and Katherine (Cook) Brown, and granddaughter Sydney E. Wilson.
Known for being an avid baker, Betty was crowned PA’s 1947 Cherry Pie Baking Champion at age 15 and competed in the National Contest in Chicago, placing third. And although she was a licensed cosmetologist, her true passion was caring for and teaching children, and she started serving as a mother’s helper at the Christ Lutheran Church kindergarten in the late 60s. After being widowed in 1969, she pursued a teaching career by enrolling in Shippensburg State University, where she earned a B.S. in Education and Library Science (’73), and an M.S. in Education and Elementary Counseling (’79). She taught second grade at James Gettys Elementary School in the Gettysburg Area School District from 1974 to 1996, where she was on the negotiation team for several teacher contract renewals. Betty also served on the borough’s Zoning Hearing Board in the 1980s.
In retirement, Betty’s love of learning continued as she traveled to Europe and Africa on ELCA mission trips and began researching the history of Black people in Adams County. Her research led to her founding the Lincoln Cemetery Project Association in 1999, publishing her book Segregation in Death (© 2001), and serving as the Association’s treasurer until 2022. Proceeds from the sale of her book funded the restoration of Gettysburg’s Lincoln Cemetery on Long Lane and the endowment for its perpetual care.
Betty also authored Progression of Education for Black Citizens of Gettysburg (© 2018) and was a well-known local historian and active with the Adams County Historical Society for decades. In 2018, she received an ‘8 Who Care’ award for Outstanding Community Service from WGAL in Lancaster.
The Myers family was the first to integrate Christ Lutheran Church in 1962, and Betty was a faithful attendee for nearly 60 years, serving on the church council, as a communion assistant, and as a lector. She was also active in her professional sorority, Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG), and the ’49ers GHS reunion group that would meet for lunch once a month. Betty was happiest when spending time with her grandchildren, whom she adored, and baking her specialties to share with a friend or visitor.
Betty is survived by her daughters, Yvonne L. Myers (Ron Rosensteel) of Gettysburg, and Lori Ann Myers of Silver Spring, MD, and grandson, Adam J. (Khoka) Myers IV of College Station, TX, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Friends and family will be greeted from 10-11 am on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Christ Lutheran Church, 44 Chambersburg St., Gettysburg, followed by a funeral service from 11 am -12 pm, and interment at the National Cemetery Annex on the corner of Taneytown Rd and Steinwehr Ave, Gettysburg. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Lincoln Cemetery Project Association, 2170 Biglerville Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325. Online obituary and condolences available at monahanfuneralhome.com.