Edith M. McGill

Edith Marietta Dupy McGill, 101, died Monday, Jan. 31, 2011 at Friendship Nursing Home in Carlinville. She was born in Taylorville, Illinois on March 9, 1909, the daughter of George A. Dupy and Amy Deal Dupy, and sister to four brothers. She was married in 1927 to Joseph Dixon McGill, who preceded her in death in 1993. Edith and Joe were parents of three children: the late James Albert McGill, Elizabeth Ann (Beth) Dobbs (Stuart), and Lynn Dickson McGill (Linda Arnan.) She is also survived by two nephews, Vernon and Don Dupy, nine grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and six great, great grandchildren.

A compassionate wife, mother, and friend, Edith was a caregiver for nearly half of her life for her aunt, her father-in-law, her brother, her husband, and most recently her son, Jim, even as she continued to be active in multiple community activities.

Edith McGill was a remarkable, multi-talented woman whose influence spanned several generations. For over seventy years, she was a choir member and also a soprano soloist at Laurel United Methodist Church, where she held several leadership positions with the United Methodist women. At Laurel, she was a member of the Clara Swain Circle. In the late ‘40’s, she taught private voice and piano lessons in Springfield. She was the first den mother of Cub Scout Den 1, Pack 36. As a member of the Laurel Quilters, she pieced many masterpiece quilts and quilted them with her friends.

Edith McGill was an expert in gardening, horticulture, and flower arranging and enjoyed sharing her love of growing things with others. A Master Gardener with the University of Illinois, Edith was a Master Flower Show Judge, a National Flower Show Judge, and became a Judge Emeritus. She won multiple ribbons at the Illinois State Fair for her arrangements. She served on the Lincoln Home garden and community design committee and contributed one of her arrangements to Lincoln’s home.

For over fifty years, Edith was a member of Springfield Civic Garden Club, serving as president and multiple terms on the board of directors. She established the Squanto Gardens program in the 1960’s and mentored younger members in the love of gardening. In recent years, she received the Armstrong-Gray Award from SCGC. This year, Edith was chosen by Springfield Garden Club to receive the inaugural Margaret Gaule Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of major contributions made to the club over the years.

Services are under the direction of Bisch and Son Funeral Home, 505 E. Allen, Springfield, where visitation will be held on Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 from 9:30 am until time of the funeral at 11:30 am. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield.

Memorials may be made to the Springfield Civic Garden Club, Lincoln Memorial Gardens, or to Laurel United Methodist Church.

Please visit the online “Life Remembered Story” at www.bischandsonfuneralhome.com where tributes and condolences may be left for the family.