Sally Bill

Essex - Sally James Bill died peacefully at home in Essex, on Oct. 15, 2010, surrounded by family.

Sally was born in Bronxville, N.Y., in 1929, to Edward Lyman Bill and Dorothy James Smart. She spent most of her life at Raymond Farms in Lyme, carrying wonderful memories of four cousins and many beloved animals. Later, she shared the farm, her stupendous gardens, and her memories with her children and seven grandchildren.

Sally was a graduate of the Lincoln School in Providence. She attended Wellesley College, leaving after two years to marry Frederick G. Gahagan. She was very proud of finally completing her college education at Connecticut College at the age of 51. She continued on to Yeshiva University (referring to herself as the "token WASP") for a master's degree but was side tracked by an onslaught of grandchildren.

Sally believed in serving her community; volunteering in the school and library and serving as a member of the Lyme School Board. She was a trustee of the Lyme Historical Society and an enthusiastic docent and volunteer at the Society's Florence Griswold Museum. She was also a founding member, and later a trustee, of the Lyme Land Conservation Trust. She beamed the day her grandson, Ben, became the third generation of the family to serve on its board. She took great joy in working with her family to permanently protect her family land.

Sally is survived by three of her children, Fritz Gahagan (Mary Lou Gahagan) of Lyme, Caroline Gahagan (Richard Hasner) of Pinehurst, N.C., and Lolly Gahagan (Chester Whitlock) of Newfield, N.Y.; as well as her seven grandchildren, Benjamin, William, and Gwyn Gahagan and Jessica, Kathryn, James, and Randy Brown.

She was predeceased by her son, Raymond Bill Gahagan.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010, at the First Congregational Church of Lyme. A reception will follow at Lyme Public Hall. Burial services will be private.

Fulton-Theroux Funeral Home, Old Lyme, is handling the arrangements.

Contributions may be made in her memory to the Lyme Land Conservation Trust, Inc. or the Florence Griswold Museum's Education Fund.

Please visit www.fultontherouxoldlyme.com for more information.