Margaret Ann McAlister

Margaret (Peg) Ann McAlister was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on July 21, 1924, to Hubert and Mable Paxton. She graduated from Coe College with a teaching degree. This is where she met her husband Victor Porter McAlister. Four children and several years later, after a particularly brutal winter, Vic decided to move the family to Costa Mesa, California in 1961. He went first and Peg followed with three of the four kids and a dog in tow. The fourth kid arrived a little later with Grandpa and Grandma Paxton. It was the first of many visits to California by Grandpa and Grandma Paxton.

Living the true California life, Vic put in a pool after Peg mentioned a pool would be nice. The family spent many happy hours around the pool. There were days spent at the beach, camping on the beach in Mexico as well as day trips to the local mountains and trips to Disneyland, too. While in California, Peg worked for several small companies before starting at a local newspaper called the Daily Pilot where she was the executive assistant to the editor. She retired from the Daily Pilot in 1993.

After vacationing in Saratoga, Vic and Peg decided to retire in Saratoga and moved there in April 1993. Peg became involved in several volunteer opportunities. She volunteered to read to elementary school kids, served popcorn at the bank, was a deacon at the First Presbyterian Church and did other volunteer work at the church. Peg managed the Platte Valley Food Pantry for many years, purchasing the food and arranging for weekly volunteers. After her eyesight failed, she continued to volunteer monthly and hand out packages. She was a regular blood donor at the Red Cross in California and Wyoming. In 2015, she was recognized for her volunteerism and was presented with the Women of Distinction award.

Always an avid reader, she taught all her kids and grandkids a love of reading too. She liked to do crossword puzzles. Peg also baked many goodies and would send Christmas packages with lots of cookies, fudge and Chex Mix, also a family favorite. She also enjoyed knitting.

Peg is survived by her son Doug McAlister, his daughters Rachal (and Duane) Simmons and Kelly McAlister, her daughter Debbie Rumble, grandchildren Lisa (and John) Arnold and great grandson John Porter, Sara (and Lance) Greer and great grandsons Devyn and Aiden, David (and Shila) Rumble and great granddaughters Shyann, Breanna and Ashley, her daughter Darcy (and Ralph) Robson, grandchildren Jill (and Jonathan) Weiner, Jacob (and Laura) Henderson, Holly Henderson (and Corey Head) and Noah Robson. She was preceded in death by her husband Vic and her oldest son Dennis McAlister and his wife Debbie.

A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2017, at 1 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Saratoga. A gathering at the church will follow after the service.