Peggy Olson's Obituary
Winning Her Stripes
Peggy’s life journey began in Fort Worth, Texas, where she was born and raised. Upon graduating from Poly High School and being a single mother with two babies, Peggy, met her life partner at a roller-skating rink when he was stationed in Fort Worth. Despite being warned that she was “untouchable,” her husband had interest, and jokes that he was immediately attracted by her skates! Her daughters concede it was her good looks and short skirt. When her husband proposed, Peggy informed him that more than his pay grade as a two-stripe Corporal was needed to support her and her two daughters; she would reconsider his proposal if he made Staff Sergeant. On March 3, 1958, the two were wed after he laid his Staff Stripes on the kitchen table and announced, “Now let’s talk about getting married!”
That’s Love
Their life as a couple and a family would always be a series of short separations and loving reunions due to a military life. Before marriage, her husband attended B52 school in Illinois, leaving the car behind in Fort Worth for Peggy and the girls. Every weekend, he would hitch-hike the distance home on Saturday, arriving in time for a few hours to be spent with his love Peggy, and hitch-hike back in time for Sunday dinner in Illinois. In marriage, Peggy and the girls relocated to Japan, Oklahoma, Washington, England, California and back to Washington to keep the loving family together.
England’s Antique Charm
Of all their destinations, England was Peggy’s favorite. England presented no language barrier; it presented a relaxed atmosphere, and allowed for Peggy’s interest in antiques to flourish. Peggy and her family furnished their home in antiques and worked as antique dealers. She ran a small thatched-roof shop on their property, taking antique lamps and assorted items as pay. The stay in England also allowed Peggy to see idol Englebert Humperdinck. Her daughter Kathy recalls that Peggy broke her tooth filling excitedly chewing on hard candy at his concert.
Southern Belle Charm
In 1964, Peggy was trained and took on full time work as a key-punch operator, but later moved into waitressing. Peggy loved people and they loved her. According to her family, Peggy was in her element in that industry, especially in the fine-dining environment of The Blue Boy steak house. Peggy’s Southern Belle charm presented itself. She had a presence and a taste that was always refined. Peggy always said she “had champagne taste on a beer pocketbook.”
Follow the Leader
Peggy was highly influenced by her cousin Harriet. Harriet was the creator and inventor in the family, with a true sense of style and design. What Harriet did, Peggy reproduced. Peggy’s garden was filled with cute plates because Harriet had done so. When Harriet suggested elastic waist pants were out of style, Peggy turned to a new wardrobe. Harriet’s love for the color red found itself throughout Peggy’s house and in the Azalea’s that flourished in the gardens of their acre lot. Harriet had a good imagination for interior decorating and Peggy would follow her explicitly. Kathy and Debbie credit much of their mother’s creativity to Harriet’s inspiration; but, Peggy’s patience and nurturing personality was all her own.
Peggy Never Met a Stranger
Peggy always made others feel special. Her family acknowledged that Peggy could converse with everyone, and never let a friend pass by without a greeting and inquiry into their well-being. According to her daughter Kathy, Peggy was “a wonderful PR person,” standing in the aisles at antique shows and drawing the attention of others by socializing with everyone. Peggy made everyone welcome. If anyone was driving anywhere close to the Olson house and stopped by for coffee, she would drop everything and treat them like family. Her husband said that Peggy was like a mother to many of his young GIs. She housed some of them in an upstairs apartment and would often have them over for dinner; she made everyone feel at home.
Picky Peggy
A nickname originally given by her daughter, Picky Peggy, spent the latter years of her life dedicated to family, friends, and a routine of tasks. Peggy supported both of her daughters in antique sales, more of a fun thing to be with them, than for business purposes; they in turn devoted time to assist her. Whether chauffeuring her around, assisting in her garden, or building her treasured back deck, they dedicated time spent in Peggy’s presence. Every Wednesday was a hair appointment. Picky Peggy, as addressed by the stylist who did her hair for 36 years, never missed a week. For many years, every Tuesday was ceramics with her friend Laverne. Peggy had a talent for ceramics marked by a beautiful nativity scene created for her daughter. Certain days were for garage sales, others for estate sales, and many for gardening. Days were also spent as a volunteer at Granny’s Attic. One of Peggy’s favorite tasks was picking weeds. Her husband noted that because of her desire to remove weeds it could take Peggy as long as twenty minutes to cross their gravel driveway, however, this attention to detail also manufactured a beautiful series of large annual gardens that graced their property.
Peggy’s Legacy
Peggy passed away on June 30, 2012. She leaves behind her loving husband, daughters Kathy (Earl) and Debbie (Tony). She also leaves behind her grand-daughters Shannon ( Higgins), Shelly (Higgins) ,Christina (Trauntman) and great grandsons Nick and Chase. Peggy leaves behind countless friends who grew to love her. She leaves behind a legacy of love, always the nurturer and always graceful.
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