Morgan McNeish

Morgan McNeish died July 13 from complications related to frontotemporal dementia. Morgan was a devoted mother to her son Liam, and a much loved member of her family, where she provided an important emotional link between her siblings, especially following the deaths of her parents. She took on life's challenges bravely and with determination, and applied her wide array of talent in many fields of work. Growing up in Wellesley, MA, she left public schools to attend Northfield Mt. Hermon, where she developed academic interests and an independent spirit. She was a familiar face at local Volante Farms in Needham, MA where she worked summers to help with school and college expenses. She went on to earn her BA at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY. After graduation she moved to New York City to work as a copywriter at NW Ayer advertising agency. After two years, she followed her passion for the arts as an assistant manager for the innovative rock group The Waitresses, where her husband-to-be Chris Butler was writer, creative director and lead guitarist. She then served as a tour director for the Danish rock group Sort Sol, with whom she remained friends till late in life. She moved on to work at Universal Studios with their East Coast story editor, and then with acclaimed feature film director Alan J. Pakula on his production team. She followed this with a four-year stint at ACT Productions as a production director for modelling shoots. Upon becoming a mother in 1999, she transitioned to work in the field of home design with companies CHF Industries, Baltic Linens, and Beatrice Home Fashions in New York and worked in parallel as a freelance designer for home goods. Following her divorce in 2006, and now sole provider, she reinvented herself to manage a team of bookkeepers at the Burgiss Group in Hoboken, NJ. In 2014 Morgan made the decision to move back to MA after many years away to seek a better education for her son Liam at Wayland public schools, and to be nearer to family. This was a challenging time for her, being consigned to less satisfying roles as a construction office manager and bookkeeper, yet she firmly believed this sacrifice was worth providing him with the best education she could. Morgan faced her recent diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia with the same bravery, determination, and compassion for others that characterized her life. She worked hard to understand the consequences of her illness, and fought back in an area where she still felt in control, with a daily regimen of hikes to enjoy the beauty of New England along trails throughout the region. As it became necessary for her to transition to assisted living, she adapted to these new limitations with grace. She was beloved by her fellow residents for the abundant warmth and generosity that her family, friends and colleagues knew so well in her. Morgan often stopped her professional caregivers in their tracks, finding themselves smitten by her unabashed optimism and kindness toward others, even in the face of this terrible illness. Though she keenly sensed her fading light, she always found a warm, spontaneous smile for those around her. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her son Liam, and her siblings David, Douglas, Sasha and Lockie.

Morgan McNeish

October 12, 1957 - July 13, 2025