Louise E. McDermott

Louise E. McDermott

Dec. 14, 1921 — Feb. 23, 2008

MONTROSE — Louise E. McDermott died Feb. 23, 2008 at the Montrose Memorial Hospital after a brief and unexpected illness.

She was born on Dec. 14, 1921 in Pomona, Calif. to the late William S. and Lillian (Luke) Gilmer. She attended school in Gunnison, Colo. and went on to attend Western State College. She and A. Wesley McDermott were married on Feb. 8, 1942.

Louise was a wife, mother and homemaker. She also volunteered as a Gray Lady for the Gunnison Hospital, canvassed for many charities and worked in the office of Dr. Donald Peterson as a receptionist/bookkeeper. Her interests included her family, reading, needlepoint, skiing, music and volunteer work.

Louise was member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Gunnison Historical Society. She was an amazing woman with a caring and gentle spirit.

At the end of WWII, Louise and Wes returned to Gunnison. Wes and his brother, Norman, owned the McDermott & Company Garage (Gunnison’s first Buick, Chevrolet and Oldsmobile Dealership).

After Wes died in June of 1982, Louise moved to Denver and then to Peoria, Ariz. She moved to Montrose in 2006.

Louise is survived and lovingly remembered by: her son, Gerald McDermott of Montrose; her daughter, Cynda McKenna and husband Mike of Santa Clara, Calif.; grand-daughters, Dr. Shannon McKenna and her husband Tom of Canton, Mass., Dayna  (McDermott) Russell and her husband Andrew of Seattle, Wash., Lisa (McDermott) Martin and her husband Ivan of Rifle, Colo.; and great-granddaughters, Kaitlin McKenna, Lauren and Kayla Martin. Surviving siblings include sisters, Virginia Buttles of Atlantic Beach, Va., Tempe Gilmer of Aurora, Colo., brother, Scott Gilmer and wife La Jeanne of Cheyenne, Wyo., as well as many nieces and nephews. Louise was preceded in death by her husband, Wes; daughter, Trudy; brother, Charles (Chuck) Gilmer; sisters, Wilda (Billie) Gilmer Jaquet, Marjory Jones and Dorothy Moore; and daughter-in-law, Patricia McDermott.

Memorial services will be held in the Gunnison Community Church in July with interment in the Gunnison Cemetery. The exact date will be announced later.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Make–A-Wish Foundation in honor of Louise McDermott. Donations can be made at the following address:  Make-A-Wish Foundation of Alaska, Montana, Northern Idaho, and Washington, 811 First Ave. Ste 520, Seattle, WA 98104, 1(800)304-9474

 The family would like to thank Dr. Porter and the Emergency Room staff at Montrose Memorial Hospital for the excellent care Louise received.

Arrangements were handled under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home, 802 E. Main St., Montrose, CO 81401 (970) 249-2121.