Betty McGill of Stowe, Vt., passed away at the age of 101 on March
26, 2024, in her home, amid the love of her children and
grandchildren. She lived life to the fullest, making many lifelong
friends in both Burlington and Stowe, sailing, skiing, and traveling
the world. She inspired all who met her with her generosity, warmth
and joie de vivre and shared her wonderful life with the late Dr.
Bish McGill, her husband of 62 years.
Raised in
Morristown, N.J., Betty met Bish at the University of Vermont,
married and raised their four children. She was active in the Mary
Fletcher Auxiliary but was most at home in her gardens. Betty and
Bish moved to Stowe when Bish retired, renovated the cozy 1840 Red
House and Barn, and tended flourishing flower and vegetable beds.
Betty had an adventurous spirit, heli-skiing the Canadian Rockies and
sailing on expeditions north into the Arctic Circle and south through
the Straits of Magellan. She skied her last runs at Stowe at the age
of 89. She was, indeed, a rare combination of earthiness and
elegance.
Betty was predeceased by her husband, James
Bishop McGill, and her brother, Donald Farnsworth of New Jersey. She
is survived by her children, James B. McGill Jr., John McGill, Jane
McGill Cooke and Robert McGill, and their respective
spouses/partners, Mimi Gleason, Lori Volding, Peter Cooke and Joyce
Bell. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Ryan, Tyler and
Andrew McGill; Alexandra Fournot-McGill; Peter Jr., Gaylan, Kyle and
Cory Cooke; as well as five great-grandchildren and many nieces and
nephews.
The McGill family is deeply grateful to Betty’s
caregivers and to Lamoille Home Health and Hospice. We also so
appreciate Dan Bezio and Kym Maynard for their years of Red House
help and companionship for Betty.
Memorial contributions
in Betty’s honor may be made to Stowe Land Trust, North Country Animal League or
Planned Parenthood of Northern New England.
Per Betty’s wishes, there will be no funeral. A family gathering
will take place at a later date.
This article appears in The Money & Retirement Issue 2024.