Betty M. Gould, a bridge life master and retired secretary, died of a stroke Sunday at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. She was 86 and lived in the city's Cheswolde section.

She was born Betty M. Frank in Hamburg, N.Y., and raised in Northwest Baltimore. After graduating in 1933 from Forest Park High School, she attended secretarial school.

Mrs. Gould worked for Riall Jackson & Co., a local insurance company founded by four-term Baltimore Mayor Howard W. Jackson in 1904. She was later employed as a secretary for 10 years with the Maryland Department of Education, retiring in 1977.

An avid bridge player, she was in her 80s when she achieved American Contract Bridge League master's status. She enjoyed reading romance novels.

Mrs. Gould was married for 49 years to Justinus Gould, former chief counsel to the U.S. House Committee on Small Business, who died in 1997.

She was a member of Har Sinai congregation and sisterhood, and was also a member of the Kerchief Ray Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star.

Services were Wednesday.

She is survived by a daughter, Patricia Parker of Cheswolde; and two grandchildren.