Margaret Ann Templeton, age 76, passed away on Monday, April 12, 2010 at her home in Sedro-Woolley, Washington.
She was born July 26, 1933 in Birmingham, England, the daughter of John and Clarice (Fellows) Holland.
Margaret became a U.S. Citizen in 1953 and on May 1, 1980 she was married to Allen Templeton in Everett.
Margaret has been a resident of Sedro-Woolley for the past six years and formerly resided in Everett for twenty-six years where she worked as a payroll and accounting manager for the Everett School District.
Margaret devoted her time to her husband and extended family. She made family gatherings special and spoiled her grandchildren. Margaret was also a “nature lover” involving herself in saving endangered animals. In addition, she fed a daily smorgasbord to the birds, chipmunks, and other wildlife near her home. Margaret will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
She is survived by her husband, Allen Templeton of the family home in Sedro-Woolley. Her children, Kirsten Green and her husband Darren of Marysville, Erik Templeton and his companion Sarah of Auburn and Glen Templeton and his wife Lisa of Covington. Eight grandchildren, Kaylie Green, Alex and Jordan Templeton, Heidi Sadri, Kyle Green and Ryan, Justin and Anthony Templeton and her sister-in-law, Sylvia Holland of Torquay, England. She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, John Holland; a sister, Betty Matthews and two grandchildren, Kevin and Megan Green.
Memorial Services will be held on Sunday, April 18, 2010 at 2:00PM at Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley.
Thank you to all who have sent your messages of sympathy, and your memories. Thanks also to everyone who attended the service. It meant a lot to us to be reminded that she was so loved by others (in addition to the family). To our extended family and Dad’s neighbors, thank you for all the help with food, decisions, etc.! It is difficult to make decisions, and to think about what needs to be done, when you are in a fog. Thanks also to everyone who listened to me tell some of the things that I appreciated and admired about Maggie (her devotion to the grandkids… and to us big kids, her work on her garden and home, etc.). I think that Bonnie Shaffer’s description (above) describes Maggie to a “T”: Bonnie wrote: She was a master of sarcasm, super intelligent, deeply compassionate and terribly classy. I can only hope to have half of her class someday. I will miss her joking way with all of us, and the images that I have in my head of her always show her smiling (sometimes in a mischevious grin, sometimes in a deeply caring, loving smile).
We are so very sorry for you family’s loss. We all will miss her dearly at all of the soccer games, she always had a smile on her face and was ready to cheer for all the kids on the field. Take Care.
I have fond memories of Maggie way -back when. We always got together with Allen and Maggie and the rest of the Templeton’s on hollidays and outings. Maggie always seemed to be a magnet for our love and attention, she was a very kind and understanding person you could talk to and were happy that you did. She will be missed by all. THOMAS
Mickey and I will see you later, sister.
Margaret was the most amazing woman! She had the sense of humor of an alley cat (which I much appreciated), was a master of sarcasm, super intelligent, deeply compassionate and terribly classy. To know her was to love her. Once she befriended you, you had a friend for life. You didn’t have to see or talk to her every day to know that she was always there for you if you needed her. It is impossible to count the number of lives she had an impact on. We will all miss her dearly. She will always be “Lady M” in my mind.
Allen, our condolences to you and all the family. It is such a loss for all of you and for the rest of us who loved her so much.
Margaret was the most intelligent, witty and caring woman I have ever met. I believe that she was my earth angel sent to watch over me. The first day I met her she befriended me and took me under her wing teaching me everything about accounting that I could absorb. Because of her mentoring, I have a very successful career and I am thankful for her caring about me and taking the time to teach me. Although I had not seen much of her in the last few years, I thought of her often. The last time I saw her she told me that she loved me. I loved her too and I will miss her.
Allen,
My condolences to you and your family. I know that she loved you all very much and I hope that will help to ease your loss.
“Aunt Maggie”…….my memories of her at many family gatherings (Christmas Eve’s at Grandma Doris’s specifically)…..funny, spirited, laughing, joking, boisterous, giving, prankster, kind. I loved her accent and especially loved her stories about swimming the English Channel. I thought that was about the coolest think I had ever heard!
She sent me a card when I graduated from high school and wrote some things in it that meant the world to me. I still have the card because she believed in me through that card during a time when I did not believe in myself.
I can only imagine the impact she has had on so many peoples lives through her amazing spirit. My prayers to all of her family and friends who will miss her so very much.
Margaret and I began working together in 1988 at Everett School District; we were acquaintances because I had been an employee of the school software vendor. When I joined the school staff she was Payroll Manager and I was Accounting Manager. She was a true friend, colleague, buddy, and generally someone who tried to get me in trouble. We would go to conferences together and enjoy all of the social activities. (We did usually learn something by attending classes.) At our administrative retreats we always shared a room. She would bring all kinds of snacks and goodies, and for me she would bring a bottle of wine… she was not a person who drank alcohol… but she always want to do something for me. When our offices split, I felt like I was missing a part of me. Barb Taylor and I were kind of away from the doings in the Business Office. Eventually we all joined forces again and Maggie was there for me as always. When things would drive either of us crazy we would go to the other’s office, close the door and “vent”. The nice thing was going to her office and getting some double chocolate malt balls that she always bought from the Mountain Man candy vendor, mostly bought because I would rant if they weren’t there. Our birthdays were always an occasion for irreverent cards – the crazier the better – and we often recycled the really good ones. Maggie was one of the most fun loving people I have ever met, but she tempered her humor with love and caring. I have treasured the fact that we still enjoyed getting together after so many years. The lunches/dinners with the Everett girls have been fun, and Maggie was always witty and up for a few good digs. She had one of the sharpest wits I have ever known, and she “got me” many times. The angels are lucky to have you, but they will have to be on their toes, your sharp mind will keep them busy
Lady Margaret, I have loved you as a true friend. I shall miss you more than I can even measure . May God love you as much as your friends have and I am sure he will. Fly high my friend.
To Allen and the family, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
I have so many fond memories of Margaret. She was a generous, caring, thoughtful person with a unique sense of humor. I am honored to have known her and lucky enough to work for her. She will be dearly missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to Allen and his family.
Margaret was such an intelligent and dear lady. What a joy it was to work with her. She had a unique sense of humor that worked well in the work place under sometimes stressful times. She treated everyone with respect and was always willing to help where needed. To Allen and the rest of Margaret’s family, I can only offer my condolences and hope that all of the great memories of your wife, mother and grandmother will bring you some comfort.
God Bless You All,
Byron Viger
Margaret and I worked together for 18 years. She was bright, smart, funny, and a great friend. I am so very sorry to hear about her passing, which is very unfortunate. I wish I could be at the funeral, but you will always be in my thoughts. God bless you and rest in peace.
I met Margaret in the summer of 1977, we were friends the minute we were introduced in the Accounting Department. She didn’t say “Hi, nice to meet you,” – no, not Maggie. She asked me if I’d stuck my finger in a socket because my hair was so curly.
I thought OK, lady. I can play this game too. Over the next 33 years it became a game of wit and zingers. I got her a few times and she returned the favor.
She was an extraordinary lady, not even 5’ tall, but you felt her presence when she was in the room. I used to tease her about getting shorter. I told her it was state law that when she hit 4’ 9” she would have to use the booster seat when riding in a car. Zing.
As the years went by we grew very close. When I met the man I wanted to marry—my softball coach — she had to meet him and give her approval before I could accept his marriage proposal. She approved. Bob and I will celebrate our 28th wedding anniversary in May 2010.
She would tell me I was her adopted daughter, but this came with “conditions.” She declared me an “orphan” when I left the Accounting Department and moved to the central office to become part of the Budget Department. A few years later we all ended up under the same roof again at View Ridge Elementary school so I was “adopted” again, only to be “orphaned” when I left the School District in 1999 and went to work for local public health. She “adopted” me again once she retired because it no longer mattered as neither of us worked for the District anymore.
I love her dearly and will miss her immensely. We will meet again, but for now she soars with the angels.
Margaret was a terrific, funny lady whom I had the great pleasure to work with at the Everett School District. I have thought often of her over the years. Condolences to the family for she was a true treasure.
Margaret has been my friend, co-worker, supervisor and mentor for 34 years. We were together every day during the week, some week nights and some weekends for 26 years. We shared many good laughs and memories through the years. I will share just my first big excapade with her and the ladies I worked with, I was 23, it was the last day before Christmas break and the first years the administration quite doing Christmas parties for the office workers. Elsie, Margaret, Ferol, Linda and myself decided we were going to have a party by ourselves and decided to go to the China Doll for a drink, and then we decided to go somewhere else. When we left the restaurant it was raining and I complained about getting wet so Margaret threw her coat over the mud puddle so I wouldn’t get my feet wet. We spent about 45 minutes at the second place and decided to go to the Chuckwagon for food and drinks. We both ended up in the ladies room at the same time so I started to sang When the Saints go Marching In. None of us wanted to go home yet so Elsie suggested we crash her daughter and son in laws Christmas party,
Margaret was a lovely lady with a terrific sense of humor. She treated those she supervised with consideration, even a lowley substitute secretary such as me who worked with her only very occasionally. When I became a full-time employee in the Everett School District Payroll Department, her visits to the office were always fun and laughter filled. She will be truly missed by those who knew her in the Finance Department. They were part of her extended “family.”
Margaret and I first met in 1988 when she interviewed me for a job. We hit it off from the first moment we met. She was a very intelligent women and taught me so much. She was my menor and one of my best friends. I think the best lesson I learned from her was to bring laughter into the work place. We went to conventions together and were known for getting lost. Our navigational direct gauge didn’t click for either of us. She loved April Fools day, gave all her staff Christmas stockings with wrapped gifts and respected us as adults who knew what their jobs were and how to accomplish them. After she retired in 1999 we continued to email and meet twice a year for lunches or dinner. I will miss her terribly. God Bless you my good friend.