Margaret M. “Peggy” Douglas
9/22/1917 - 8/7/2017

A loving mother, sister, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to people she met, Peggy Douglas died peacefully in Bellingham on August 7, 2017. Born September 22, 1917 to Leo and Alma (Barton) Merkel, she worked hard on the family farm with her sister Audrey during the Depression, graduating from Chelsea High School and a Detroit business school. She met David G. Douglas of Ann Arbor while swimming, followed by their marriage in Seattle where he was a Boeing engineer. They spent more than 50 years together before Dave’s death in Port Ludlow where they had retired.

Family and friends were everything to Peggy. She and Dave had 3 sons, Michael (wife Sharon) of Deer Harbor, Tim (wife Joanne) of Bellingham, and David Jr. (wife Lindsay) of Snohomish. Camping together every summer, the family later became boaters, with Peggy an often wary member of the crew. Every winter she had a pot of chili ready when her skiers returned from the slopes. Most of all, Peggy gave wise and patient counsel to her sons and neighborhood kids who hung out at the Douglas home.

Peggy was proud of her grandkids, who brightened her life with their visits: Markus, Thaddeus, Brian, Erika, Sarah and Corrinna. Later came great-grandkids Chelsea, Madison, Isabella, Dakota, Khalia and Indira. She encouraged them to learn and spread their wings. Peggy loved her nieces and nephews as if they were her own kids: Joan, Judy and Roger, Deb and Carl, Susan, and Katie. And wherever she lived or went, she made quick friends, always gracious and interested in them. Beth, her Willows pal and Anne, her Shuksan roommate kept her mind alert and activities rolling.

Each time someone left her home, Peggy coached “Drive Safely!” We wish the same for YOU, Peggy. We love and already miss you.
At Peggy’s request, her family will have a private gathering in lieu of a service. Family and friends are encouraged to share memories and condolences at www.whidbeymemorial.com.