Born 1948

I have an AMAZING grandma. Her name is Lora MacFall. My cousins and I call her Gogo. I made up the name because I was her first grandchild. Enough about me, let’s talk about Gogo. She was born in New York City in 1948. Her parents, Elizabeth McNeill and Herbert Elkinton named her Lora MacNeil Elkinton. When she was a teenager, her father passed away. A little while later, Gogo’s mother remarried to a man named Chalmers Handy. He was her stepdad. They both were great fathers. Gogo has a brother and a sister. Her sister’s name is Elizabeth Barr and her brother’s name is Herbert Elkinton. Gogo is the oldest of the three siblings.

Some of the countries her family comes from are England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Norway and Sweden.  She grew up in Far Hills, New Jersey. She stayed mostly in one place growing up. One of Gogo’s fondest childhood memories is making nests in freshly mowed lawn.

When she was growing up, she wanted to be a mother. You may ask if she did become a mother and the answer is yes, she had three children. Their names are Hope, Rhoads and Edward, but everyone calls him Ned. Hope is my mom.

She went to elementary school at Far Hills Country Day School. She also went to middle school at Far Hills Country Day School. She went to high school at a place called Garrison Forest School. Gogo went to College at a place called Barclift College University of Pennsylvania.

After college her job was a cartographer at Hammond Maps. She had this job until she had her first child, my mom. Then she raised her 3 kids and ran the house. Later, after her kids grew up, she owned a retail business called Little Purls selling children’s clothing, with her friend until she retired.

She met her first husband through friends. His name was John. After he sadly passed away, she remarried to a man named Doug.  She also met him through friends.

Gogo has always been very busy.  In her free time she loves to knit, read, listen to music, take walks, sail, golf, bowl, spend time with her 7 grandchildren and garden. Gogo’s grandchildren range in ages from 12 years old to 1. Their names are Mabel, Elizabeth (me), Imogen, John, Anna (my sister), Lillian, Oscar from oldest to youngest.

Gogo says that the best thing that ever happened to her was marrying her husbands. The worst thing that ever happened to her was when her first husband John passed away. 

Something she would love to do, but hasn’t yet, is learning to fly a helicopter and travel the world more. She has traveled to a lot of places such as Australia, England, New Zealand, Egypt, Bermuda, France and Aruba. She would like to travel more.

One thing that Gogo is most proud of are her children. I am proud to be one of Gogo’s grandchildren. 

Based on an interview with Lora MacFall, April 2020.

Written by: Elizabeth Burchard, Grade 5 – Wilbur & McMahon School

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