Born Marguriete Kay McGill, September 23, 1936 in Sevierville, Tennessee.  She was the daughter of Tilda McGill and the sister to five brothers and sisters.

Kay, as she liked to be called, worked many jobs in her life, including one at Kenny Toy Factory.  This job made her only son, Gene (me), happy. After two marriages that ended in divorce, she found the love of her life, Luther Henry Gross.  They were married for 15 years until he unexpectedly died of an aortic aneurysm. She never remarried.

My Mom worked tirelessly throughout her life. She had a career as a licensed practical/vocational nurse and worked in nursing homes, usually taking the night and holiday shifts. I and my three children were the light of her life. Well, us and her pet cats. My Mom usually had two pet cats at any one time.

Throughout my Naval career when I was stateside, my Mom came to live with me when I was stationed in California, Georgia and Texas. She was a part of my retirement ceremony from the Navy in 1999.  In December 2000, my Mom moved from Texas to live with me, my wife Christine and our cat Josette in Plymouth, MA.  When she moved to Plymouth, she retired from nursing, but volunteered at The Thrifty Pilgrim in Cordage Park. She would also keep me company at my store, Incantations.

My Mom was my biggest supporter and was thrilled that I had also finally found the love of my life and was fulfilling my childhood dream of owning my own bookstore. She was always proud of what I had accomplished in my life. And I am proud that I was able to have this woman, who had met so many hardships in life with such towering strength of will and spirit, be my Mom.  Her absence is a large void in my life and she will be greatly missed.