Elizabeth "Betsy" Lieber (Duvally) Bessinger

Elizabeth "Betsy" Lieber (Duvally) Bessinger, of Middletown, died peacefully at Brookdale Sakonnet Bay, Tiverton, RI on November 26, 2016. Born in Fall River, MA, she was the daughter of the late Dr. Frank Anthony Duvally and Elizabeth Horgan Duvally.Betsy is survived by her son Jay Bessinger, his wife Jeannette, and their children, Jesse and Julian, as well as her son Anthony Duvally Bessinger and his children, Beckett and Emerson. Her brother, Frank Anthony Duvally, her sister Myra Horgan Duvally and her ex-husband, but constant friend, Jess B. Bessinger preceded her in death. Betsy graduated from Wheeler School in Providence and Radcliffe College in Cambridge, MA. She was a former member of the Providence Art Club, the Newport Art Museum, the DeBlois Gallery as well as the Ida Lewis and Barrington Yacht Clubs. Betsy was first and foremost an artist, whose sculptures and paintings earned awards prizes and praise throughout her lifetime. She was also an avid sailor, who owned many sailboats over the years and who introduced sailing to her Texas-born husband and her sons. Let's go to Block Island!" was her constant spur-of-the-moment catch phrase, and she delighted in watching the Americas Cup races from the deck of her boat on Rhode Island Sound.She was also a lifelong dog owner and a devoted and true friend to the many people she knew and loved. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, December 18th, at 1pm at St. Columba Berkeley Memorial Chapel, 55 Vaucluse Avenue, Middletown, RI.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Robert Potter League for Animals, PO Box 412, Newport, RI 02840 and the Visiting Nurse Services of Newport County, 1184 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871. Service DEC 18. 01:00 PM St. Columbas Berkeley Memorial Chapel Vaucluse Avenue Middletown, RI, US