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Beth Peck

December 4, 1932 ~ June 7, 2021

Posted 6/11/21

Beth Peck of Narrowsburg, NY, passed away peacefully with loving family by her side on Monday, June 7, 2021. Beth and her late husband Arther Peck were the founders of Peck’s Markets in …

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Beth Peck

December 4, 1932 ~ June 7, 2021

Posted

Beth Peck of Narrowsburg, NY, passed away peacefully with loving family by her side on Monday, June 7, 2021. Beth and her late husband Arther Peck were the founders of Peck’s Markets in Sullivan County, NY.

Born December 4, 1932, to Lester and Anna Rosencranse, Beth grew up in Beach Lake, PA and graduated from Narrowsburg Central School. Beth, lovingly called “Grandy” by her family, was well known for her penmanship, kind and gentle demeanor, eternal optimism and generosity.

Surviving her are two daughters, Alison Peck of Honesdale, PA, and Anita Orsini and husband Rick of Fort Lauderdale, FL and a son-in-law, Paul Kean of Livingston Manor, NY. She is also survived by 10 loving grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren: Alica and Derin Kraack, Jennifer and Sean Thompson, Katie and Paul Wilson, Jason and Danielle Kean, Jon Michael and Victoria Suib, Ryanne and James Jennings, Chris Orsini, Shayne and Karly Peck, Brandon Orsini and Kellsie and Austin Dunham. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Peggy Seiferling, Penny Gresovic and Frank Peck and many loving nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death was her husband Arthur Peck, daughter Arden Peck Kean and son, Wayne Peck and her siblings Alice, Joyce, Loren, Roger and Wilma.

Beth went to the Wayne County Commercial School in Honesdale before proudly taking a position at the Wayne Independent. She was a dedicated reader of local newspapers, especially the River Reporter. She was one of the founding members of the Tusten Times Inc., the original publishers of the River Reporter as well as a founding member of the Tusten Ambulance Corp. She and her husband Art, purchased the Oellrich & Behling Market on Main Street in Narrowsburg in 1963 and established Peck’s Market. She considered herself the “bookkeeper” for the market, but really served as financial officer and lead advisor for the business. A new market was constructed on Kirk Road, Narrowsburg in 1975, and the business, now formally known as Peck’s Market, was moved to that location. She and Art then opened two additional Peck’s Markets in Callicoon and Livingston Manor before selling the three corporations in 1987 to Peck’s employees, utilizing an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), one of the first such transactions in New York state. This transaction was noted in the July, 1988 issue of Bank Notes, a newsletter published by the National Cooperative Bank of Washington, DC, which financed the leveraged ESOP buyout. This unusual venture was also referred to in the Oct. 17, 1989 issue of Business Week, the May, 1990 issue of Family Business Magazine and in an Empire State Development newsletter in 1995.

In 1990 she and Art built and gifted the Tusten-Cochecton Library building in Narrowsburg on land donated by the Town of Tusten. Beth was an avid reader for the entirety of her life. Beth dedicated many years of her retirement to volunteering with the library and also the Tusten Historical Society and served on the board of directors for the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance. She was a beloved member of the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Narrowsburg.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish to do so may donate to : Tusten-Cochecton Library, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church or to a charitable organization of your choice.

A service will be held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Narrowsburg on Thursday, June 17, 2021 at 11 a.m. Masks are required for all in attendance.

Arrangements are by the Harrison Rasmussen Funeral Home, Barryville, NY 12719 (845)557-8010.