Ewing McGavock Brown Cantrill, age 86, passed away at the Georgetown Community Hospital on July 10, 2010. Mrs. Cantrill was born in Lexington, Kentucky, on February 4, 1924, to Mr. William Johnston Brown, Jr., and Eloise Williams Brown. She grew up on Hanover Avenue with three sisters, Emie Brown Spears, Leigh Brown Cox, and Eloise Brown Shropshire. Mrs. Cantrill graduated from University High School in 1942, where she was Junior Prom Queen.

Mrs. Cantrill attended the University of Kentucky for a year in 1942-43, then transferred to Ward-Belmont College in Nashville for a year, then returned to UK briefly before joining the U.S. Navy in 1945 as a Corpsman. After two years of service to her country, Mrs. Cantrill returned to UK and graduated with a BS in Home Economics. She returned to UK a year later and completed graduate studies to earn her teaching certificate. Mrs. Cantrill taught home economics to grades 8-12 in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1949-50.

In 1993, Mrs. Cantrill received a “Fifty Year Award” for fifty years of membership in the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority.

Mrs. Cantrill married her life-long partner, James Campbell Cantrill, M.D., on August 13, 1949; following his graduation from medical school at the University of Virginia, they lived for a time in San Diego, California while Dr. Cantrill served on Navy medical duty, then moved to Georgetown in 1952.

Mrs. Cantrill gave a lifetime of devotion and service to the Episcopal Church. Within one year of moving to Georgetown, she was President of the Episcopal Church Women there, a position she would hold several times during her life. During her terms as President, Mrs. Cantrill accomplished many things, including beginning the church’s Memorial Garden, its annual Advent Dinner, and a Wednesday morning Bible study group that continued for many years. Mrs. Cantrill served as Supply Chairperson on the ECW Diocesan Board from 1954-60; as Christian Social Relations Chairperson from 1959-65; Devotional Chairperson from 1965-71; and Bluegrass Regional Vice President from 1971-77. She attended national meetings of the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer, and attended ECW Triennial meetings in 1961, 1963, 1982, and 1985. Mrs. Cantrill was a Synod delegate in 1982 and 1983, and a delegate to the Diocesan Convention in 1984 and 1986. She was President-elect of the Lexington Diocesan ECW from 1977-80, President from 1981-84, and Vice President from 1985-88, as well as serving on the Executive Council and Greater Cathedral Chapter during her term as President. Also during her term as President, Mrs. Cantrill authored a pamphlet entitled “Madam President, HELP!”, a guide with tips and suggestions on how to be successful parish ECW Presidents.

For over two decades, Mrs. Cantrill represented the Diocese of Lexington at triennial General Conventions of the Episcopal Church, in either the capacity of an elected deputy, or an alternate. In 1984, Mrs. Cantrill was awarded the Office of Commander in the Legion of Merit by Bishop Addison Hosea, for her many years of exemplary service to the Church. This is one of the highest honors that may be bestowed upon a lay person in the Diocese of Lexington and in the Episcopal Church.

Mrs. Cantrill later served on the Nominating Committee that selected Bishop Don Wimberly as the 5th Bishop of Lexington, on the Advisory Board of the Diocesan ECW, and on the Pension Fund Committee.

In 1977, after a cathedral tour of Great Britain, Mrs. Cantrill discovered her innate talent as an artist. Under the tutelage of Mrs. John Core of Sadieville, Mrs. Cantrill learned to sketch with charcoal, and eventually mastered many paint media, including water colors, pastels, and her favorite, oils. Her early works were predominantly landscapes of scenes around central Kentucky, and seascapes. In her later years, as her eyesight declined, Mrs. Cantrill nonetheless continued to paint, albeit in a more imaginative, impressionistic style. Mrs. Cantrill’s many paintings, affectionately known as “Ewings”, grace the homes of virtually all of her family members and are priceless treasures.

Mrs. Cantrill also served in many capacities in the community of Georgetown, including as President of the John Graves Ford Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, and as a long-time member of the Scott County Women’s Club. She also was awarded the Key to the City of Georgetown by its Mayor on the occasion of her 80th birthday.

Mrs. Cantrill is survived by her daughter, Corinne Cantrill Trimble, and her husband, David C. Trimble; her son, James Campbell Cantrill III, and his wife, Janet Cantrill; four grandchildren, Ewing Anne Dunn (and husband Jonathan L. Dunn), Andrea C. Shropshire, Alexander C. Cantrill, and A. Payne Cantrill; nieces and nephews Elizabeth Spears, Byron Spears, William Spears, Virginia Blackburn Hendon, all of Louisville, Leigh Spears of Colorado, Leonard G. Cox, of Georgetown, and William B. Cox, of Lexington; and her devoted friend and pet Schnauzer, Delilah. She was pre-deceased by her husband, James Campbell Cantrill, M.D.; a son, Andrew Ewing Cantrill; and her three sisters, Emie Brown Spears, Leigh Brown Cox, and Eloise Brown Shropshire.

Mrs. Cantrill’s family would like to thank Kathy Hunter, Cathy Harvey and Beverly Burns for their service and tender devotion to Mrs. Cantrill during her life; her friends and fellow parishioners at the Church of the Holy Trinity; and Ms. Carrie Johnson and the entire staff of nurses, aides, and therapists at Georgetown Community Hospital for their dedicated and loving care of Mrs. Cantrill during her illnesses and admissions there in recent years.

Visitation will be at Tucker, Yocum & Wilson Funeral Home on Tuesday, July 13, 2010, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The funeral will be held at the Church of the Holy Trinity, 209 South Broadway, Georgetown, on Wednesday, July 14, 2010, at 11:00 a.m., followed by a graveside service and interment at the Georgetown Cemetery, 710 South Broadway, Georgetown. A celebration of Mrs. Cantrill’s life will be held following the conclusion of the graveside service, at the home of J. Campbell and Janet Cantrill, 324 East Jackson Street, Georgetown.

Memorials to Mrs. Cantrill may be made to any of the following: the Ewing B. Cantrill Memorial Fund (to complete purchase of pew torches for the Church of the Holy Trinity), 324 East Jackson Street, Georgetown, KY 40324; Hospice of the Bluegrass 1317 US Hwy 62E Cynthiana, KY 41031; or the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Department for Libraries & Archives, Kentucky Talking Book Library PO Box 537 Frankfort, KY 40602.

Active pallbearers are Mr. Greg Gregory, Mr. Leonard Cox, Mr. William Cox, Mr. John Worsham, Mr. James Kearns, and Mr. Kenneth Kring. Honorary pallbearers are Mr. William Hays, Mr. Edwin Alyea, Mr. Marion Hall, Mr. Robert Hester, Mr. Grover Shropshire, Mr. Lewis Wolfe, and Mr. H. Howell Brady, Jr.

Mrs. Cantrill was the epitome of a “steel magnolia” – the solid core, heart and soul of her family, wrapped in the grace and charm of a true Southern lady.