Margaret Bell Smyth, age 94 of Poughkeepsie NY, died peacefully on February 7th at The Pines nursing home.
“Maggie” was born in Greenock Scotland on March 24th 1923. She was the daughter of James Kean and Margaret Aitken Gibb Kean.
In June of 1945, shortly after WWII ended, she married Bryce Steele Smyth in Greenock Scotland. They were married 44 years before Bryce passed away in 1989.
In 1965, Maggie and family emigrated to the United States; she was a resident of the Poughkeepsie area for 53 years.
She worked as a telephone operator in Scotland and also for New York Telephone in the U.S.. She worked for many years as a child care worker and group home parent for the Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie.
She was a prodigious knitter. Her grandchildren were always warmly dressed. Always outgoing and cheerful, she loved music of all kinds and song and dance. She loved to travel.
Maggie was a long-time member of the Dutchess County Scottish Society and the Thistle Club. She was a member of the Freedom Plains United Presbyterian Church.
Maggie had one sister, Jean McIntyre Keir, now deceased.
She is survived by three children and their spouses: Graham and Ellen Smyth of the Town of LaGrange NY, Ann and Tom Foley of Highland NY, David Smyth and Judy Cid of Middleburgh NY. She is survived by seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren living in the U.S., as well as several cousins, nieces, nephews and their families living in England and Scotland.
A funeral service will be held at the Freedom Plains United Presbyterian Church on Rte. 55 in Lagrangeville NY, on Saturday Feb 17th at 1:00pm.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation to the Vassar Warner Home of Poughkeepsie: http://vassarwarner.org/volunteergive/make-a-donation-2/
Arrangements have been entrusted to the William G Miller and Son Funeral Home of Poughkeepsie. (www.wmgmillerfuneralhome.com)

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