Lorraine Ruth McGown

Lorraine Ruth Densmore McGown, 98, under hospice care and the loving attention of her children in her Johnson, Vermont, home of 30 years, succumbed to a failing heart on September 13. She was born June 11, 1927 in Barre, Vermont, to parents Lauraine Densmore and Ruth Chalmers. The namesake of her eight grandchildren, Lori McGown, observed that her grandmother was born the year of Vermont's greatest flood and died during the state's worst drought.

Young "Denny", as she was called, spent the first 68 years of her life on the move with family to Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, the Netherlands, Chicago area, New York again, back to Vermont, then the Detroit area, Saudi Arabia, California, and at last, Vermont. Along the way, she studied as a Nurse Cadet at Rutgers University, married her Nutley, New Jersey, high school boyfriend, Donald McGown, and bore 8 children resulting in 8 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. She also shared her homes with several great danes and other large dogs.

Lorraine loved to read, especially historical fiction. She was active in the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Methodist Church, Eastern Star, and an ardent fan of the Red Sox. Her handwriting was beautiful as she regularly corresponded with her many friends and loved ones by mail and cherished every card and letter she received.

She is survived by 5 children: David, Douglas, Gordon, Donna and George McGown. Her younger only sibling, Jean Lanphere, passed away last August.

Funeral services (with Lorraine's cremated remains) will be held at the United Church of Johnson at 1pm October 18th. The deceased had requested that attendees not wear black. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the United Church of Johnson, 100 Lower Main St W, Johnson, Vermont 05656-9630.