Mary Eleanor Lindsay

On March 20, 2025, our mother, Mary E. Lindsay, passed away at her home just as she had hoped. She was born Mary Eleanor Adams Williams on August 8, 1930 in Melrose, Massachusetts to the Reverend Gowan Clarence Williams and Ruth Alden (Hoyt) Williams.

After high school, she attended Brown University where she met Mary (Lindsay) Welch and the two soon became close friends and roommates. It was on a school holiday when she traveled home with Mary that she met Mary's older brother, Bo Lindsay. The two were married a few years later on June 12, 1954 and they had two children Richard and myself (Mary), before moving to Turlock, California in 1960 after our father finished his medical training. Two more children followed, Tom and Janet. Upon retirement in 1994, our parents moved to Pacific Grove, California and enjoyed daily life on the Pacific coast. They remained married for nearly 62 years until our father passed away in March 2016. I am sure she was never quite as content after his death.

During my childhood years, my mother planned spectacular birthday parties, taught Girl Scouts and even rescued me with forgotten lunches. I remember vividly when she bought me a soft yellow plaid dress with a bow detail on the dropped waist for no reason and left it hanging in my room in plain sight for me to discover after school.

Later, in my teenage years, she was a dedicated supporter of my education, sometimes typing the remainder of my final drafts late into the night. She was a speedy typist in her day! She hosted my friends after school and on weekends, and drove us to numerous tennis lessons, some of which were out of town until we could drive ourselves.

My college years brought care packages, letters, and a listening ear for my academic stresses. When I returned home during college breaks there was often a little vase of fresh flowers from the yard left waiting for me in my room.

In adulthood, she passed on her culinary gifts teaching me the secrets to her delectable chocolate mousse, fresh coconut cake, creme caramel, and homemade pies. She planned and orchestrated most of my wedding, assisted me after all three children's births (even the one in Washington), and babysat my two oldest children part-time so I could work until we moved from California to Washington. She embraced Andrew when he was born with Mosaic Down syndrome and flew up to Washington with Dad more than once to help when Andrew was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of six.

She similarly was involved in the lives of her other three children. She attended many swim lessons and most Turlock Swim Club meets for all three of my siblings. I distinctly remember he cooking steak and eggs for my brothers on swim meet mornings. She supported the boys swim team, the boys water polo team and the girls tennis team for round two with my sister at Turlock High School. She was always an advocate for the teachers who filled her kids' lives, sometimes inviting them to dinner at the house! Dance lessons for my sister at June Jane Ripley McVey's studio were a part of the picture for several years as well.

I remember fondly the large holiday parties marked by formal table settings, exquisite food, and plenty of family and friends she hosted most of my life. She also was largely responsible for family gatherings in places like Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Sunriver, Oregon, Lake Tahoe, California, Pajaro Dunes, California, and both Kauai and Maui!

Amidst all this activity she also found time for herself and charitable work. In Turlock she and several friends envisioned and implemented a thematic gourmet group. She was a member of the Tuesday Reading Club, joined Julien School's PTA, and volunteered at the school's library. In Pacific Grove she enjoyed walks down to Lover's Point, books on her Kindle, and a good meal with visiting family on Monterey's Wharf. She was an active member of P.E.O. both in Turlock and in Pacific Grove, and found time to deliver food for Meals on Wheels. Traveling in the states and abroad with Dad was a well-loved aspect of their retirement years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Dr. E.R. Lindsay, and her siblings, Gowan Williams, Arthur Williams, and Ruth (Williams) Hook. She is survived by her college friend turned sister-in-law, Mary (Lindsay) Welch; four children, Richard (Susan) Lindsay, Mary (Wayne) Ramsey, Tom (Anne) Lindsay, Janet (Stephen) Weinberg; ten grandchildren Andrew Ramsey, Maura (Conor) O'Brien, Katelin (Levi) Benoit, Katie Lindsay, Kristin (Nicolay) Melnik, Meg Lindsay, Lindsay Weinberg, Becca Weinberg, Kenta Lindsay, Anna Lindsay, one great-grandchild, Daphne O'Brien, and several loving nieces, nephews and friends.

She lived 94 1/2 mostly healthy years. After 66 years of her presence in my life it is now gone, but we are grateful for the long, full life she lived. May she rest in peace.

For those wishing to donate in her memory, she particularly liked to support public television, natural wildlife organizations like the Nature Conservatory, and the Salvation Army.