Betty Trexler, 93

PEMBROKE — Betty Trexler, 93, of Pembroke, passed away peacefully at home on July 22, 2026.

Betty was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 19, 1933, the third of four children of Hannah and Arthur Meise. She attended Fullerton Elementary School followed by Kenwood High School in Baltimore, where she graduated as valedictorian. With her high academic achievements, Betty had aspirations of going to college for chemistry and becoming a pharmacist, but marriage at 19 to Richard "Dick" Trexler and raising her four rambunctious boys took precedence. For two decades she was a full-time mother and homemaker, active as a den mother, PTA member, Sunday School teacher, and director of the well-loved Vacation Bible School at Grace Chapel in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Betty loved camping with her family throughout New England, starting out sleeping on the ground in a canvas tent just big enough for six, and eventually moving up to a Starcraft tent-trailer. She enjoyed group camping in Rumney, with other families from Grace Chapel, and her favorite campground was White Lake State Park in Tamworth.

In 1972, Betty and Dick decided to pull up stakes, sell everything and buy a “fun” business. Their original thought was to buy a family campground based on a shared love of camping but, serendipitously, an opportunity to buy a small marina on Lake Winnipesaukee, in Moultonborough, came their way. Despite having no experience with recreational boating, Betty and Dick purchased Moultonborough Marine on a wing and a prayer. Running this seasonal business had many challenges, but Betty quickly adapted to each and worked hard to master the art of serving the public. Working in the marina was also a great learning experience for her boys, who each picked up invaluable life skills. By focusing on the customer, the business expanded, doubling the number of docks and storage capacity in five years, when it was rebranded as Trexler’s Marina.

When Dick died suddenly in 1980, Betty stepped into his role as president while still performing her duties as office manager and financial controller. Betty became a well-respected business leader in the Lakes Region and beyond. She joined the NH Marine Dealers Association, serving as treasurer for six years. As a member of the Marine Retailers Association of America, she served as a board member for six years, representing Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts. In 1988, Betty received national recognition as Marine Woman of the Year for outstanding achievement. Later in life she served for nine years on the board of directors for the Sugar Hill Retirement Community in Wolfeboro.

A love of travel took Betty all over the globe. She first went to East Africa, on a camping safari, following the wildebeest migration across the Serengeti with two of her adult sons in 1987. For the next three decades she went on scores of trips to hundreds of countries and remote islands, which included a 90-day cruise (literally around the world). Betty eventually retired to a quiet life of reading and reflection at Chickering Meadow in Pembroke.

She often said that her proudest achievement was raising her four sons, Ron, Keith, Jeff and Scott. She felt blessed with an immensely enjoyable life where she was able to go places and do things that few of her contemporaries were able to experience. She was eternally grateful for the bonds of her family and the love and joy they brought her.

Betty is predeceased by her husband, Richard Trexler; her brother, Kenneth Meise; her sister, Gladys Clemente; and most sadly by her son, Scott Trexler, just months ago. She is survived by her remaining three sons and their spouses: Ron and Caroline Trexler of Manchester, Keith Trexler and Ellen Vera of Milford, Jeff and Marcia Trexler of Dunbarton; her daughter-in-law Denise Trexler of Moultonborough; grandchildren Ryan Trexler of Hancock, Katelyn Lamontagne of Waltham, Massachusetts, Andrew Trexler of Madison, Wisconsin, Stephanie Lin of Guilford, Connecticut, Olivia Trexler of Brooklyn, New York, Jacklyn Trexler of Goffstown, Quinlan Trexler of Moultonborough; and many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Calling hours will be held at Quayside Yacht Club by Trexler’s Marina, 15 Long Island Road, Moultonborough, from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20. A private funeral and celebration of life will follow next summer on the 94th anniversary of her birth.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Lake Winnipesaukee Alliance or the American Heart Association in memory of Betty.