Agnes McColley

Agnes Emily McColley went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, March 8, 2020 after a long battle with dementia and then cancer. She was born November 20, 1949 in Ware, MA and was the middle daughter of Leo Harry McColley and Mae Ruth Gleason. Aggie, as she was called by her friends, graduated in 1967 from the Business Division of Ware High School. Later that year she married Richard Godbout and together they moved to Amherst, MA where Aggie worked as the head secretary in the Social Science Department at the University of Massachusetts. She and Richard moved to Milbury, MA where he finished his degree and Aggie worked as head secretary in the Social Science Dept. at Clark University. 1977 they divorced and she moved to Kalamazoo to work as head secretary in the Social Science Dept. of WMU. During this time, she also edited books for several of her professors, enjoying especially the children's literature books. Aggie was known best for her fast speed and accuracy of typing, making her a great asset to all of the Universities she was employed by. She made wonderful friendships at work along with a new family of friends at St. Thomas More Catholic Parish Church where she played guitar and all manner of percussion instruments for 10 years as part of their beloved folk group at the 11:15 service. In 1987, Aggie left Kalamazoo and moved to Swansea, MA where she lived for 15 years and helped her sister Margaret raise Brandi, her granddaughter in law. While there, she also expanded her many crafting skills of knitting, crocheting, making and decorating homemade chocolates, basket weaving and painting and decorating all kinds of ceramics. She retired and moved to Portage 12 years ago living in a lovely apartment with a porch for both her and her cat Cookie to enjoy. Aggie would like to be remembered for her passionate love and support of all animals; her great love of music, especially John Denver, her love of attending church at Westminster Presbyterian with her sister Marie and playing all kinds of percussion instruments, her love of the ocean and long quiet walks on the beach and her devotion and support for her two sisters. Aggie's sisters will always remember her great laugh, playing Uno with them until the wee hours of the morning, her constant love of them and her church which offered her community and devoted support, her dedication to her precious cat and lifelong companion Cookie. Aggie is survived by Cookie, her sisters Marie McColley Kerstetter and Margaret Charron, her Gleason cousins scattered throughout Connecticut and her two McColley cousins Billy and Johnny Cushing. According to her wishes, Aggie was cremated and a Celebration of Life will be held in mid-June at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Contributions in memory of Aggie may be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church, Ascension at Hospice or the Oakland Animal Hospital.