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BECK
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| Peggy (Margaret Isabelle Mackay) Beck |
Thursday, November 22, 2012, Thanksgiving Day, a brilliant light was extinguished when Peggy (Margaret Isabelle Mackay) Beck passed from this life in her home in Panama City Beach, Florida, from a brief illness.
Gone too soon but on a most appropriate day, her family gives great thanks for being a part of her legacy and celebrates her life. Famous for her tireless energy, Scottish work ethic, and pioneer spirit, she raised her three daughters with tough love and wisdom.Peggy was born on Seabird Island, British Columbia, Canada, on September 2, 1934. Peggy's six-member family consisted of her father Hosie Mackay, mother Agnes Mackay, brothers Donald and Ian (Bunk) Mackay, and sister, Jeannie Mackay.
Peggy met Charles (Charlie) Miller Beck (deceased), a WWII Air Corps veteran, when she was a young woman of 23, and began her new life in the United States. While living in El Paso, Texas, Deborah Jeanne Beck (Gonzales) was born, in Midwest City, OK, Pamela Susan Beck (Elins) and Katherine Anne Beck came along, all girls born approximately two years apart.
Eventually the Beck family moved to the Dallas, Texas, bedroom community of Plano. During her Plano years (1968-1991), Peggy was a visionary; her ideas were the foundation for many of Plano's current cultural traditions such as: the City Fest, Fairview Farms and participating in one, and all, of the city's many parades with her beloved grandchildren.
In 1991 with her family grown, Peggy moved to Panama City Beach, Florida, with her life-partner and soulmate, Bert Whitbread (deceased). For many years they successfully owned and operated Fernleigh Antiques, providing one-of-a-kind exquisite antiques and nautical relics to buyers both locally and from far-away places.
Always looking for creative outlets, Peggy had the "Out and About" byline in the "Emerald Ladies' Journal," in which she reported on the extensive Panama City social scene, all the while keeping the local seniors stretching in her weekly exercise classes at the Senior Center.
But her flair for pageantry and stagecraft was never more satisfied than by her involvement with the "Red Hatter's Disorganization," a splinter group from the national organization. No dues, no problem was their mantra -- just come wearing your most outlandish red hat and ready to participate in the production.
Peggy is predeceased by her father and mother Hosie and Agnes Mackay, beloved brother Donald Mackay, ex-husband Charles (Charlie) Beck, and partner Bert Whitbread.
Survived and cherished by her brother Ian (Bunk) and sister-in-law Carol Mackay, sister-in-law Peggy Mackay (Donald), sister Jeannie Mackay, and aunt Fair Holroyd (Harold), and many nieces and nephews scattered about the mountains and valleys of beautiful British Columbia.
But most of all it's her three daughters, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren who hold her near and dear in their hearts: Debbie Gonzales (John), Pam Elins (Marty), Kathy Beck (Jeff Pond), grandchildren Zack and Taylor Gonzales, Carla Palmer (John), Torrey Pond (Nancy Colwell), Phil Elins (Stacy) and great-grandchildren Marcel and Piper Gonzales, Clare, Kate and Hugh Palmer and Peyton Elins. And many, many dear friends discovered and cherished on her life's journey, lastly, her four-legged companion and protector, "Bluey," her blue-eyed border collie.
Two celebrations of life will be held in honor of Peggy Beck -- one in January 2013, in her home of 20+ years, Panama City Beach, Florida, and then in the spring Peggy will be returned home to her eternal resting place in the beautiful Frasier Valley under the outstretched wings of the snow angel of Mount Cheam, Agassiz, British Columbia.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested a donation be made to your local chapter of the SPCA.
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