1915 – 2004

HUDSON, Fla. – Madelyn L. McGinley, 88, a native of Florida, and long-time resident of 7 Pine St., Dixfield and Aripeka, Fla., died Jan. 27, at Windsor Woods Health Care Center, the town in which she was born Mary Frances Madelyn Littell on May 30, 1915.

She was one of 12 children born to C.P. Littell and Hilma Sue Nelson Littell.

When she and her “bald headed Irishman” Moe McGinley moved to Dixfield, she worked for several years as a secretary, first in the office at Diamond Match and later at what was then Dixfield High School, where she often counseled students who needed someone to talk to or a shoulder to cry on.

For many years she and her husband, Jim spent their summers in Dixfield and the winters in Aripeka, Fla. After Jim died in 1986, she continued to make the trip back and forth, until the summer of 2001 when poor health made it no longer possible.

She was an active participant in the Dixfield Congregation “Church on the Hill” while she was in Dixfield and was a member of the Aripeka Baptist Church as well.

Her loves were gardening, braiding rugs and making quilts.

Over the years she braided a rug for each of her children and grandchildren. She was blessed with the gift of writing beautiful poetry, which were mostly about family members, friends or the beauty for God’s creations.

Survivors include her four daughters, Mary Charity and her husband, Louis of Hudson, Fla., Glynda M. Childs and her husband, James of Dixfield, Andrea Dobbs and her husband, Cecil of Sunnyvale, Calif., and Pamela McGinley of Homer, Alaska; one sister and three brothers, all residing in Florida; 10 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her husband, James A.”Moe” McGinley in 1986; and several brothers and sisters.