Katherine Reba Maguire (Demerritt)

Katherine Reba Demeritt Maguire born March 9, 1917 passed away on December 22, 2015. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Christ Our King Church, Mt. Pleasant, SC on January 8, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. Born in Middletown, Conn., she was the daughter of Percy Ray Demeritt and Sarah J. Naughton Demeritt. Raised in Boston, Mass., she was a twin to her brother Charles. She graduated from Dorchester High School for Girls in 1935 where she was class secretary. She met her husband Thomas A. Maguire in Boston and they married in November, 1939. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Thomas, her brother Charles and her beloved Aunt Reba Astone. She was blessed with four children; Maureen K. Maguire of Mt. Pleasant, SC, Paula M. Maguire Hill (Frank) of Columbia, SC, Peter M. Maguire of Watertown, MA and Thomas A. Maguire, Jr. (Janet) of Norfolk, MA; three grandchildren, Naomi E. Hill Washington (Shahn) of Birmingham, AL, Lydia C. Hill Duncan (Nate) of Birmingham, AL and Peter K. Hill (Morgan) of Newberry, SC and four great-grandchildren Nathan, Hannah and Caleb Duncan and Lily Grace Hill. She spent the first half of her life in Boston where she raised her children. The entire family was active in the Holy Name Parish. The last half of her life was spent in Norwood, MA where she was very active in the Norwood Women’s Community Committee also serving as secretary. She volunteered at Norwood Hospital, Meals on Wheels and transporting patients for chemotherapy as well as many other community organizations. Katherine was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She loved New England, especially Boston. It held her heart for her lifetime. Each season there was something different for her to enjoy whether swimming on Cape Cod, hiking and walking, playing tennis or cross-country skiing. In her last years she always asked to be taken outside to enjoy the fresh air whether it was summer or winter. Over the years she especially enjoyed traveling with her husband Tom, and close friends to Ireland, Peru, Venezuela, Hawaii, Canada and Germany as well as through much of the U.S. especially Colorado, California and Montana. She had an adventuresome and light-hearted spirit. She will be sorely missed by her family and friends. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in her honor to the Beach House, Senior Ministry at Christ Our King Church or to Godspeed Resources Connection, Columbia, SC. Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at www.McAlister-Smith.com . Arrangements have been entrusted to McALISTER-SMITH FUNERAL HOME, MT PLEASANT CHAPEL, 1520 RIFLE RANGE ROAD, MT PLEASANT, SC (843) 884-3833.