Peggy Jo Willis-Martin
Peg would never want others to make a fuss over her. She’d prefer a celebration of her life be without fanfare. She would want it to be determined by the celebrants. Creativity was her mainstay..
After her graduation as valedictorian, class of 1957, Auxvasse High School, Auxvasse, MO, Peg enrolled at Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University) at Kirksville, MO.
In the summer of 1961, after fulfilling her first teaching contract at Ballwin Elementary, west of St. Louis, she returned to her alma mater to receive a Bachelor of Science in Education degree and contracted to teach in the Harlem Elementary School District many miles away in a suburb of Rockford, Illinois.
In 1962 Peggy Jo Willis and Eldon Wayne “Marty” Martin were married in Loves Park, IL. At the end of that school year they returned to their alma mater and enrolled for the 1963 summer session.
That summer, their first daughter, Deidre Lynn was born, Marty received his Master of Arts Degree and agreed (via phone) to teach in the Central Union School District in Lemoore, CA where, the following summer Melina Anne was born at Hanford hospital.
Four years later, husband Marty signed a contract to teach at Franklin Elementary School in Santa Barbara and the very happy Martin family departed the San Joaquin Valley for the California coast where the girls matured and branched out socially.
Peg took a position as Executive Director of the Tri-Counties Multiple Sclerosis Society. Her masterful leadership grew MS coffers from thousands of dollars, to hundreds of thousands. By applying her dedication to purpose and organizing skills her MS chapter participated in fundraiser after fundraiser; such as Bachelor and Bachelorette Auctions, Ugly Bar Tendor Competitions, Bike Tours, Tennis Tournaments, Elementary School Read-A-Thons and the Taste Of The Town events. She also augmented MS coffers by bringing in charitable donations from community leaders and local businesses. Her family lovingly volunteered to help.
Peg loved being a courthouse docent. She enrolled in adult education classes to learn more about writers like Proust and James. She mastered book binding and made beautiful calligraphy productions as a result of attending adult education classes.
Peg was an exceptionally smart, loving, dedicated mother and wife who excelled at doing her best to make life for others a little bit better. She loved her family, her cats and her flower garden. Peg is truly loved and will be missed for a very long while.
Peg is survived by husband Eldon Wayne “Marty” Martin, daughter Melina Anne Boscutti (Tom), granddaughter, Catrina Boscutti-Flores (Jack), great granddaughter Stella Flores, step great granddaughter Aaliyah Flores, grandson Jeffrey Boscutti (Sophyia), grandson Maxwell Boscutti (Ashley), great granddaughter Isabella Boscutti, great grandson Maxwell Boscutti, great granddaughter Lillianna Boscutti.
Peg’s first daughter Deidre, preceded her in death.