I had the privilege of having Peggy help me with the Genealogical Society of Douglas County cemetery reading projects in the 1990s and beyond. She gave it her all even when it became difficult for her to get on the ground and back up again to read a headstone. She never complained and was one of the very few people I have known in life who I can truthfully say I had never heard Peggy say a bad word about anyone. So Peggy, wear your golden crown in heaven with pride.

    When Peggy was probably about 6 and me 3, we made a deal with the girl next door to run away to a tree house across the street that some boys had made.  Of course, this was to be at night and we had sugar and saltines to take in our school lunch boxes.  Well, the neighbor girl never show up and Peggy never woke me up.  End of adventure.

About the same time, when we were taking a bath together, we both wanted the soap so Peggy convinced gullible me to bite the soap in half.  Mom wasn't too happy to scrub soap out of my teeth! 

I worked with Peggy over the last 16 years as a volunteer for the Genealogical Society of Douglas County.  She was such an asset to our Society not only for her wide range of history and stories she shared about Douglas County family history and school history but also for her faithful dedication as a volunteer. She did several library shifts each month, was a member of the Monday work crew and always looking for a proof reading project to do.  She truly cared about each of us and what was going on in our lives. She loved her Frank and missed him terribly.

Personally, she was an inspiration to me. She never let her age or declining health be an excuse for not staying active in life. And can you imagine going to India in the early 1950's as a young single girl! I loved to hear her stories of teaching, the projects she was working on for Children's Church and of her trip to India. She was able to volunteer for the Society through September and the last few months were a struggle for her to get to the Monday work days. She came in with her walker, exhausted, and apologizing for being late but asked right away about what project we had for her. She never lost her smile through it all. We knew how important it was to her to give so always found something she could do. I tried to suggest that she could stay home and rest when she hadn't had a good nights sleep, the projects could wait, but she would not even consider that.

You will be greatly missed, Peggy!

Mom took us on lots of hikes and camping and she just loved the wild flowers. It was at a young age I began to learn and love the flowers that have become so much more to me as I've learned wild edible and medicinal qualities of the plants. I remember the shady walks along the creek trails of the North Umpqua finding bleeding hearts and maidenhair ferns. Mom didn't need to know what they could be used for, she just loved their beauty and helping children discovery the joys of nature.