Bettie Wendell (Morris) Magee, 91, of Natick, born in Roslyn, New York, died on June 23, 2018. Her adoptive parents were Benjamin B. Morris and Beatrice (Wendell) Morris. Bettie grew up in Chicago with summers in Coronado, California. She married the late Kenneth R. Magee, M.D. in 1948. Bettie attended the University of Chicago Lab Schools, Wellesley College, and graduate school at the University of Michigan. She raised her four sons in Ann Arbor, Michigan, before retiring to Fuengirola, Spain for 11 years and then settling in Natick in 1997.
In Michigan, Bettie’s career included psychologist at Milan Federal Prison; tutor counselor at Jackson Prison; Investigator & Coordinator of Pre-Trial Investigation Program, Washtenaw County. In Spain, she was a Professor of English at Columbus College, served on the Board of the American Club of the Costa Del Sol, authored a book on retirement, “Choose Spain,” published numerous articles in Lookout Magazine and SUR in English, and covered the World Cup. In Natick, she enjoyed the Longfellow Poetry Society, the Natick Writers Guild, and being a sage in Sages & Seekers.
In 2018, 91 years after her adoption, she joyfully met her biological brother David Barton and his wife Lynn Barton of Nashville.
Bettie was dedicated to equal rights for all people, engaged in social justice issues, and was an avid animal lover. She was devoted to “Baggio,” her orange tabby cat whom she brought home from Spain, as well her two adoptees, “Melanie” and “Lily Marlene.” She considered the most important facets of her life to be the rearing of her sons and learning the Spanish language fluently.
Bettie was predeceased by sons Robert Morris (Bobby) Magee and Benjamin Rush (Rusty) Magee. She is survived by her son James Lyndon (Jamie) Magee of Natick, his wife Jane and their children Lorraine and Otto; her son Kenneth Wendell (Kenny) Magee of Ann Arbor, his wife Dawn Donnelly, and his daughter with former wife Claudia Dorsch, Daniella; Rusty’s wife Alison Fraser Magee of New York and their son Nathaniel; and Bobby’s wife Beverley Heap Magee of Atascadero, California.
The family wishes to thank Bettie’s friend and caretaker Anne McGrath and her father Jack.
Visitation will take place at John Everett & Sons, 4 Park St. Natick on Saturday, July 7th from 1pm to 3pm, with service to follow at 3pm. Burial of cremains will be at a later date at Forest Hill Cemetery, Ann Arbor. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Stray Pets in Need.