ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. – Alice J. Ferguson McGillan, 95, formerly of Cranbury, N.J., died Dec. 31, 2012. Born in Nictau, Canada, Alice immigrated to the U.S. in 1947, became a naturalized citizen and raised her family in Fort Fairfield, before moving to Cranbury, N.J., in 1963. She then retired to St. Petersburg, Fla., in 1971.
An expert seamstress and tailor, Alice worked at Gretchen Fabrics, East Windsor, N.J., where she enjoyed teaching advanced sewing classes. She loved making wedding gowns and her passion was quilting. Alice lovingly made queen-sized quilts for each of her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed crocheting and knitting. In addition to her career as a seamstress, she was the secretary and bookkeeper for her husband and sons’ excavating business, McGillan Excavating, Cranbury, N.J. She loved playing card games with her children and grandchildren, and especially enjoyed family lobster parties in the summer. Alice was proud of her Scottish heritage and loved traveling with family to Scotland. Also in retirement, she volunteered her time by making lap quilts and crocheting blankets for veterans at Veterans Administration Hospital, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Alice was the daughter of the late Frederick Ferguson and the late Bessie Watters Ferguson. She was also predeceased by her sisters, Hazel Ferguson Pekrel, Ada Ferguson Beal and Ola Ferguson Reagan; brothers, Alfred Ferguson, Arnold Ferguson and Orin Ferguson; and grandchild, Brian Thomas McGillan, in 1968. Alice was married in 1934 to Lemuel William McGillan and they celebrated 65 years together before his death in 1999. Surviving are her five children, Frederick McGillan Sr. and wife, Gwen, of Fort Fairfield, Ralph McGillan of North Fort Myers, Fla., Mary McGillan Dorsey and husband, Newman, of Leesburg, Fla., Grace McGillan Burleigh and husband, Lary, of Hooksett, N.H., and Guy McGillan and wife, Eileen, of Cranbury, N.J. Also surviving are her 14 very successful adult grandchildren and 22 beautiful great-grandchildren.
Calling hours for family and friends will be held 7-9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4, at Barlow & Zimmer Funeral Home, 202 Stockton St., Hightstown, N.J. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at St. Anthony of Padua R.C. Church, 251 Franklin St., Hightstown, N.J., with interment after at Brainerd Cemetery, Cranbury, N.J. Donations in Alice’s name may be made to Bay Pines Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Volunteer Services, No. 105 Building 2, P.O. Box 5005, Bay Pines, FL 33744.
Alice J. Ferguson McGillan
