Beckett, Margaret (Peggy)

Margaret (Peggy) Beckett, 90, resident of Cottage Grove Place, passed away at St. Luke's Hospital, Friday, Jan. 27, 2012, with her family and Pastor at her side.

Peggy was born in Artesian, S.D., Nov. 6, 1921, to Will and Agnes McDonald. Her family moved to Iowa, near Boone, in the fall of 1932. Peggy graduated from Jordan Consolidated High School, near Boone in 1939. She attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls and taught in a rural school in Boone County for two years and was the nurse's secretary at Linn-Mar Schools for several years. Peggy married Larry Beckett on Febr. 4, 1942 in Los Angeles, Calif.

Peggy was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Rowena; and a brother, Archie.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, Mark and his wife, Linda; two granddaughters, Katie Beckett of Cedar Rapids, and Chelsea Lee of Kansas City, Mo.; a sister, Joan Wengert of Des Moines; a brother, Bill Haley and wife Thelma of Nevada, Iowa; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Peggy and her husband enjoyed traveling in their RV and made many friends along the way as they did for several winters in Mesa, Ariz. She joined the First Presbyterian Church of Marion, Iowa, in 1954 and was very active there. Peggy served two terms as an elder (being the first woman elder elected from this church), taught Sunday school and directed the Vacation Bible School for two years. She also started the prayer chain, which is still active, and was the first editor of First Press as it is today and remained in that position for nine years. Peggy was chairwoman of her circle several times and chairwoman of the Women's Organization twice. She served on several different committees. The committee she found the most rewarding was the Pastoral Nominating Committee, which resulted in the hiring of Pastor Julie Anderson Schuett.

Peggy made her church a high priority in her life; only her God and her family came ahead of her church family and friends.

Visitation will be at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church in Marion, where a luncheon will follow at the church. The Rev. Howard Chapman will officiate.

Memorials may be designated to the First Presbyterian Church, Marion Elevator Fund.

Published in The Gazette Jan. 31, 2012.