Shirley MacDougall ... 1st female foreman at GE; at 90

Shirley A. MacDougall, 90 died peacefully at Frisbie Memorial Hospital on Oct. 16, 2024, after declining health.
She was born Sept. 25, 1934, in Lynnhurst, Mass., the daughter of Victor S. and A. Dorothea Bergstrom.
Shirley was married to John MacDougall Jr., who died in 2020 soon after they celebrated their 64th anniversary.
Shirley is survived by her four children, Janis Fitzpatrick and her partner Ed Couture; Joyce MacDougall (predeceased by her partner Larry Chilson); Judy Davison and her husband Duncan; and John "J.D." MacDougall III and his wife Ann.
She also leaves her grandchildren Michael "Mick" Fitzpatrick, Jr., Chris Weeks (and Dawn), Jessica Lehmus, Rob Weeks (and Lori), Jeff Weeks (and Chrissy), Amy Weeks, Brandon Bouchard, John MacDougall IV, and Kayleigh MacDougall; along with her great-grandchildren Zoey Fitzpatrick, Michael Fitzpatrick III, Chloe Weeks, Brian Weeks, Aiden Lehmus, Eisley Donahue, Carly Weeks, and Lucas Weeks; as well as her sisters Dottie Riley (and Bud) and Vicki Sullivan (and Jackie) and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her brother Irving Bergstrom, grandson Brian Weeks, Jr., granddaughter Amanda Bouchard, and great-granddaughter Madison Weeks.
Shirley enjoyed playing the organ, crocheting, and doing ceramics among many other arts and crafts. She also loved to travel... solo or with John or various friends. She was a member of many community clubs including the Red Hatters, quilting club, the Strafford Garden Club, and was a founding member of the No Hatters. She was also known for her vast and varied pig collection! The grandchildren spent many an hour counting them throughout the house on their visits.
Other than a brief hiatus in which she started and stayed at home with her family, she enjoyed a long career at General Electric in Somersworth, where among other roles, she became the first woman set-up man and the first woman foreman there. She was involved in many of the company's extracurricular activities, particularly the bowling league.
After retiring she enjoyed gardening and, from growing her own herbs, opened an herb and spice shop.
She started working on family genealogy in the '80s and it became a lifelong passion (some would say obsession). Her pursuit of information connected her with extended (and unknown) family and took her far and wide, including to Sweden and Scotland.
She was a delight to all who knew her and she will be missed.