Erica McBride

Erica McBride died Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022, at the home of her daughter, Grace McBride, following a long illness.

Erica Mary Glen was born Oct. 4, 1929, in London to Col. James and Isabel Mackay. She spent her early life in Scotland and India. She attended school at St. Leonard's in Scotland and nursing school in London. She was a licensed midwife who rode her bike though the streets of London to deliver babies.

After nursing in London for several years, Erica and a friend decided to travel and work in the U.S. While working in Los Angeles, she met and married Cedric (Mac) McBride Oct. 1, 1954. Soon after the marriage they moved to Emporia, Virginia, where their children were born. The family moved to Cape Girardeau in June of 1968.

Erica worked at Southeast Hospital for 28 years in a variety of capacities: night supervisor, director of nursing and the outpatient lab. More than anything, she enjoyed her work as nurse and manager of Labor and Delivery (OB) where she was known for calling her patients "poppets," "sweet wee bunnies" and "dearies." Erica was always so pleased to be stopped by former patients who remembered her nursing care. Thank you if you were one of those people.

After retirement from the hospital, she worked 15 years for her son-in-law at Rob Rueseler and Associates, retiring at age 83.

Erica loved gardening, reading and writing poetry, needlework, traveling and cats, especially her Simon. She had the most wonderful sense of humor and a very strong sense of duty. She wrote wonderfully entertaining letters that are treasured keepsakes.

She was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Cape Girardeau. She enjoyed serving as lay reader (with her beautiful British accent) and baking Scottish shortbread for fellowship gatherings.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 1986, her son, Ian in 1994, and her son, Clay in 2012. She was also preceded in death by her beloved siblings, brother, Col. Hugh Mackay of England and sister, Janet McCarraher of Italy.

She is survived by her daughters Janet (Rob) Rueseler and Grace (Carla) McBride, both of Cape Girardeau and her daughter-in-law, Madeleine McBride of La Crescenta, California. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Mesha (Nick) Aroutsidis, Eric (Kelli) Rueseler, and Ian McBride; and great-grandchildren, Michael, Rachel, Noah and Sophia Aroutsidis and Emma and Greyson Rueseler. Also surviving are dearly loved nephews and nieces in England, Italy and Canada.

The family suggests that memorial donations be made to SEMO Pets (Humane Society).

Visitation will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

The family plans to hold a memorial service in Scotland this summer.