Walter Smith, 84; was electroplater

Walter Mathum Smith of St. Petersburg, Fla., formerly of Peabody, died Nov. 17 at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center in Burlington after a brief illness. He was 84.

Mr. Smith was born in Lowell and was raised in Everett. He graduated from Everett High School. He served in the Navy during World War II aboard the USS Iowa.

He worked as an electroplater first at the F.M. Callahan Co. in Malden for 20 years and later at the Salem Plating Co. in Salem, which he operated for 12 years. He retired in 1986. He lived in Peabody from 1952 until he moved to St. Petersburg in 1986.

Mr. Smith was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Everett, and the Knights of Columbus of Peabody. He belonged to a bowling league for many years.

Mr. Smith leaves his wife, Phyllis L. Smith, with whom he shared 57 years of marriage; three daughters, Carolyn L. Caruso of Andover, Denise F. Raphael of Peabody, and Cynthia L. Stewart of Palm Harbor, Fla.; eight grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Marjorie Gavin, 91, phone firm worker

Marjorie A. (Quill) Gavin of Chicopee Falls, formerly of the Bradford section of Haverhill and a former Western Electric employee, died Nov. 17 at the Willimansett Center West in Chicopee. She was 91.

Mrs. Gavin was born in Newburyport on Sept. 3, 1913. She was educated in the Newburyport school system and lived in Bradford for more than 60 years.

She worked for the former Western Electric for 29 years, retiring in 1976.

Mrs. Gavin was the wife of the late Donald W. Gavin Sr. who died in 1978.

She leaves one son, Donald W. Gavin Jr. of Newton, N.H.; three daughters, Patricia Shappley of Chicopee, Maureen Jordan of Highland Beach, Fla., and Judith Duffy of Chicopee; 13 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Judy H. Kirim, 47; hospital manager

Judy H. (Barrigar) Kirim of Beverly, a hospital administrator, died Nov. 17 at her home. She was 47.

Mrs. Kirim was born in New Milford, Conn. She graduated from Simmons College with a master's degree in healthcare administration.

Mrs. Kirim worked for many years at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. She was senior project manager and coordinator for the hospital's operational improvement efforts. She became the associate director of admitting services and, later, the acting director of admitting services.

Recently, Mrs. Kirim worked as the director of patient access services at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. She also was a proprietor, along with her husband, Kyle Kirim, of the MedScript company.

She was a member of the Massachusetts Association of Healthcare Access Management as well as the National Association of Healthcare Access Management. Mrs. Kirim represented Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center on the Mayor's Task Force to Eliminate Racial Disparities in Health.

In addition to her husband, she leaves her mother, Carolyn Barrigar; a brother, James Barrigar of Northbridge; and three sisters, Wendy Barrigar of Cohasset, Nancy Kinnane of Colorado, and Linda Wakeley of New Jersey.

Margaret Wescott, hospital employee

Margaret M. (Melanson) Wescott of Haverhill, a former employee of Hunt Memorial Hospital, died Nov. 17 at Penacook Place in Haverhill. She was 88.

Mrs. Wescott was born in Lynn on Dec. 21, 1915. She graduated from Lynn English High School with the class of 1934. She lived in Haverhill since 1978 and lived in Danvers and Barrington, N.H.

She worked at Hunt Memorial Hospital in Danvers until she retired in 1977.

Mrs. Wescott was a member of St. John the Baptist Parish in Haverhill as well as the Merrivista Women's Club in Haverhill.

She was the wife of the late Elmer M. Wescott, who died in 1999.

Mrs. Wescott leaves one son, Donald M. Wescott of Swampscott; one daughter, Donna M. Panarello of Haverhill; two sisters, Rita M. Rose of California and Helen M. LeBrun of Danvers; nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Patricia Bishop, 71, retired office clerk

Patricia L. (Everett) Bishop of Haverhill, a former office clerk, died Nov. 17 at the Merrimack Valley Hospital in Haverhill. She was 71.

Mrs. Bishop was born in Haverhill and had lived in the city all her life. She attended St. James School and graduated from St. James High School in Haverhill. She also attended Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill.

She worked as a clerk in the billing office at the former Hale Hospital in Haverhill until she retired in 1999.

Mrs. Bishop belonged to St. James Parish in Haverhill. She also served as a tutor in the literacy program at the Haverhill Public Library.

Mrs. Bishop leaves three daughters, Ann C. Lacey of Groveland, Barbara J. Garrett of Mansfield, Conn., and Jeanne M. Bishop of Haverhill; three sons, David A. Bishop of Newburyport, Stephen J. Bishop of Amesbury, and John C. Bishop of Bradford; one sister, Jeanne M. Kelley of Haverhill; eight grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.