Mildred E. Mott

KENNEBUNK—Mildred Elizabeth “Betty” (Larigan) Mott, of Kennebunk, Maine, formerly of Naples, Maine and Sherborn, Mass., died peacefully in the care and comfort of her family on April 29, 2011. She was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on December 17, 1922, the daughter of Edward Raphael Larigan and Mildred Jeannette (Schauf) Larigan. Betty was the beloved wife of John R. Mott, and together they celebrated 60 years of marriage last January at Atria Senior Living Community. She was the devoted mother of Edward Richard Mott, of Hudson, Mass.; John Robert Mott, of Ashland, Mass.; and James Jefferson Mott, and his wife Julie of Sherborn, Mass. She was preceded in death by her parents in 1978; by her brother Bob in 1998; and by her brother Jack in 2004.

She grew up in Great Neck, Long Island, where she met lifelong friends Mrs. Pat (Hansen) Boynton and the late Mrs. Joan (Blaike) Horwath. She graduated from Wells College, Aurora, N.Y. in 1944. A highlight immediately after graduation was a tour of Europe with four of her classmates. On return she was employed as secretary to Mr. W. T. Grant, founder of the department store chain, in his New York City office; and in 1948 she was employed as a secretary at Sperry Gyroscope Company, Lake Success, Long Island, where she met her future husband, a newly-arrived engineer, in 1949. After moving to Massachusetts in 1968, she taught nursery school at Plymouth House in Framingham, and later worked in the Interlibrary Loan Office at Wellesley College.

She was a member of the Missions Committee and also served as Deacon at the Pilgrim Church in Sherborn. She enjoyed watching her sons play sports, entertaining, going to the theater, skiing, playing golf, tennis, and bridge. In 1993, the University of Maine Cooperative Extension recognized her as an Outstanding Master Gardener. Over the years, Betty and John were members of the Wellesley College Club; the Harvard Club of Boston; Naples Golf & Country Club in Naples, Maine; and the Seascape Resort Club of Destin, Fla. For many years Betty worked on behalf of families coping with mental illness, lobbying, volunteering, and co-authoring the book, Families Helping Families—Living With Schizophrenia.

A Memorial Service and interment at Pine Hill Cemetery in Sherborn will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers, her family suggests memorial contributions may be made to the National Alliance on Mental Illness/ Massachusetts; www.namimass.org. Arrangements are in care of Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer Street, Kennebunk, ME 04043. www.bibberfuneral. com