Mary Williams: Former Scarsdale Resident

Mary Butler Williams, 86, died Monday, Sept. 30, 2013, at Heaton Woods, with family by her side.

She was born May 19, 1927 in New York City, the daughter of John Ben and Dorothy Cumpson Butler. She attended the Fieldston School and graduated from Vassar College in 1947.

In 1948 she married Dr. M. Henry Williams Jr. of New Haven, Ct., a pulmonary physician who spent most of his career at Albert Einstein Medical Center in the Bronx, N.Y. They lived briefly in Chevy Chase and Silver Spring, Md., and then for over fifty years in Scarsdale, N.Y., retiring to Montpelier in 2005.

Mary is survived by five children: Dr. Stuart E. and wife Sarah E. Griffith Williams of Montpelier; Patricia and husband Joseph Garofalo of Colchester; Marshall B. and wife Marguerite Gousie of Woonsocket, R.I.; Frances Williams of Bonnieville, Ky.; and Richard Williams of Barre. She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Peter Williams of Mamaroneck, N.Y.; Curtis and Spencer Williams of Portland, Ore.; Morgen Neagle of Burlington; Dorothy Williams Neagle and husband David Weinstein of Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.; William S. and wife Beth Brown of Pylesville, Md.; and Ben Brown of Barre; one great-grandchild, Mae Bird Weinstein, and another “on the way.”

She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, and three brothers: John B., Edward R. and Daniel K. Butler.

Mary was past president of the Scarsdale Women's Club; past president of the Westchester Vassar Club, where she was very active with the Westchester Vassar Club Book Sale; a member of the Factotums singing group, and a member of the Bel-Aires Tap Dance Troupe. In Montpelier she was active with Bethany Church and the Senior Center. All her life she enjoyed summers in Marlboro, Vt.

She played the piano expertly, and loved watching tennis, ice skating and ballet, and playing bridge. She loved the novels of Thomas Hardy, and read widely about the history of England, especially the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. In her later years she traveled in Europe and Egypt.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Oct. 12 at 1:30 p.m. at Bethany Church United Church of Christ, 115 Main St., Montpelier, with reception following.

A memorial service and interment will be held Saturday, Oct. 26 at 1:30 p.m. at the Marlboro Meeting House in Marlboro, Vt.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Vassar College Annual Fund/Alumnae Fund, 124 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 12604.

From Guare & Sons Funeral Home