SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Our dear, loving Scottish mother and wife, Jean B. Marcotte, who ensured her family would have a happy life by moving to San Luis Obispo, Calif., nearly 40 years ago, passed away on Monday, July 27.

She was born in Glasgow, Scotland, to parents William and Ellen Kavanagh Begley. Following her formal education in London and Glasgow schools, she acquired many skills throughout her lifetimefrom private catering, being a professional seamstress and finally, running her own successful business.

At the insistence of her loving father, she emigrated to America as a nanny for a family in Winnetka, Ill., to care for three young children. A few years later, she moved to Florida to work at the Whitehall Hotel and Resort in Palm Beach, Fla. The Whitehall was attached to the famous Henry Morrison Flagler Museum and has since been destroyed. The museum remains the primary tourist attraction in the Palm Beaches.

While working at the Whitehall, she met her future husband, Paul Marcotte, of Maine. They married several months later in Arlington, N.J. She and Paul soon moved to Lewiston and settled into his inherited home. During this time, two sons, James and Scott, were born. After 14 years of Maine winters, she and family returned to Florida for three years, where she was employed as an executive housekeeper for several wealthy families in the Boca Raton area.

She took it upon herself to find a better location to raise her family and visited San Luis Obispo on her own. Soon the family relocated there and has been happy here ever since. Jean visited Scotland often to maintain close ties with lifelong friends, (many in the Lewiston/Auburn area), traveled to Europe and enjoyed many cruises with her husband. Being with friends and family, hosting parties, dancing, whatever you care to mention, she was vibrant and full of life and people loved being around her.

She is survived by her two sons, James (Sarah) of Los Angeles, and Scott (Maria) of San Luis Obispo, Calif.; brother, Jerry Kavanagh of Coylton, Scotland; a sister in London and her cherished granddaughter, Rowan, who was her great joy. She was also survived by her brother-in-law, Raymond Marcotte of Lewiston. She was considered a sister to the Brasher families of Alabama and Olympia, Wash., and a longtime family member of the MacFarlanes of Ayr, Scotland. She treasured the many lasting friendships she accumulated throughout her lifetime. She was warm and deeply considerate of others and always there for us.

While in Maine, she became an American citizen and rarely missed the opportunity to vote. She was a member of the Mission Church Young Ladies Institute and a former member of the Central Coast Women’s League. She previously served as membership chairman for the GOP Women’s Federated Club.

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