Lifelong Southampton resident Elizabeth Katherine (née Smith) McDonald died at her home, surrounded by family, on April 30. She was 94.
Born February 7, 1915, in Southampton, she was the daughter of Jeanie (née Gray) and Marvin S. Smith. She attended the two-room Tuckahoe School at the corner of Magee Street and Sebonac Road, just down the street from the home her father built circa 1900. She graduated from Southampton High School in 1932.
An expert seamstress, she began her career making hats for the social elite in Nina Taylor’s boutique on Jobs Lane. She was working in that shop during the Hurricane of 1938 and, according to family, loved to tell the story about deciding to close up when the water entered the front door; when she got home, her mother casually mentioned that it had been windy that day and continued canning peaches. She also worked as a seamstress for Albert and Lilly Minnie’s Drapery Shop and Hildreth’s Upholstery Shop.
She married her childhood sweetheart, William F. McDonald, on August 25, 1940, and the couple settled into her childhood home, where they lived for the next 49 years.
A 4-H leader for 25 years, Mrs. McDonald also taught classes for the Home Extension Service for many years. She was treasurer of the Tuckahoe School District and continued a relationship with the school by being active in the community. Five generations of her family have attended Tuckahoe School.
A devoted member of the United Methodist Church of Southampton, family recalled that whenever she was asked whether she is the oldest member of church, she would reply “No, I am the longest member,” having been confirmed at the age of 12.
In her later in her years, she took up quilting and often displayed her work in the Water Mill Museum Quilt Show.
She is survived by four daughters, Elizabeth “Betsy” Ingram and husband Butch of Southampton; Nancy Davis of Cooperstown; Jeanie Allen and her husband George of Delaware; and Mary McDonald and husband Gary Popovich of Virginia; 11 grandchildren, Troy Allen and his wife Charlene Babinski, Jay Allen, Brook Ingram, Jeffrey Ingram and his wife Ragan Finalborgo, Bret Ingram and his wife Nada, Kier Ingram Gaddy and her husband Dedrick, Erin Kershaw and her husband Shane, Allison Simonetta and her husband Mark, Aaron Gill, Marvin Gill and his fiancee Melissa Yao, and Michael Davis; and 11 great-grandchildren, Tyler and Mackensie Allen, Alaina, Lidia and Silvia Ingram, Deyan, Jace and Miles Gaddy, Ryan and Catherine Kershaw, and Alex Simonetta.
She was predeceased by her husband of 49 years, Bill, in 1989, and three brothers, Cortland G. Smith, William “Bob” H. Smith and M. Clarke Smith.
Funeral arrangements on Wednesday, May 6, were under the direction of O’Connell Funeral Home in Southampton. In lieu of flowers, donations to United Methodist Church of Southampton, 160 Main Street, Southampton, NY 11968 or East End Hospice, P.O. Box 1048, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978 would be appreciated by the family.
on May 6, 2009