Margaret "Peggy" Genevieve Oakes,

Passed away peacefully on October 15th, 2025 in Boulder, CO. Peggy was born Oct 12th, 1936 in Woodlake, CA to Wiffler R. "Spike" Oakes and Genevieve A. Oakes (née Bickmore). Given that her father was a long standing National Park Service Ranger, Peggy had the privilege of growing up in or near many National Parks, including Sequoia, Death Valley, and Olympic. Her mother Gen, served as a public health and school nurse during Peggy's formative years. Her parents, their faith, and their familial culture was instrumental in Peggy's development as an empath for humanity, believer in social justice, and a lover of nature and the outdoors.

Peggy's education included the unique experience of attending a one room school in Death Valley. Her education helped lay the foundation that inspired her long career as an elementary school educator. She graduated from Whitworth College, in Spokane, WA, followed by a Masters in Library Science from University of Arizona, in Tucson, AZ.

Her teaching career started in the Tucson area followed by oversees teaching in Wiesbaden, Germany , then Okinawa, Japan. Her time in Wiesbaden helped grow her lifelong interest and love for classical music and opera.

In 1967 Peggy moved to Boulder, and within a couple years she had joined the Boulder Valley School District starting her long career as a beloved teacher of early elementary school children. The majority of her teaching career was spent at Columbine Elementary which happened to be located around the corner from her home. She influenced the lives of so many students, families, colleagues, and neighbors over her long tenure at Columbine. After her retirement in 1996 she continued to hear affectionately from many of her past students and colleagues. Peggy's life was a testament to the power of education and the impact of a single individual on the many.

Having lived oversees, Peggy continued to yearn to travel and see the world. Her travels included visiting close friends and family in California, and Canada, along with numerous longer winter stays in Hawaii with her close friend and travel companion Roberta. As a member of multiple outdoor groups, she spent many summers hiking overseas in the European mountains, along with a lifetime of hiking in the Colorado Rockies. Part of her love of the outdoors included her passion for bird-watching which was the focus of many of her travels in the US, Mexico, and Central America.

Peggy continued her mother's legacy of fine cooking and hospitality that was mirrored in her very large collection of recipes and beautiful China and serveware she accumulated over the years.

Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, who instilled in her the values of faith, family, and friends that she held dear throughout her life. Though they departed this life before her, their legacy continued brightly in Peggy's actions, and in the love she shared. As we celebrate Peggy's life we are reminded of the scripture, "Well done, good, and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:23). Her journey on earth may have concluded, but her spirit lives on in the memories we cherish and the lives she has influenced.

Peggy leaves behind her close circle of support, Roberta Kienzle, Carolyn

Gillespie, Cousin Donna Kerfoot, Joe La Camera, Helen Hayden, and Melinda Gillespie. She will be remembered fondly by her former neighbors and colleagues, past students, and many friends. She was fortunate over the last few years to be cared and supported by an incredibly loving staff at the Frasier Meadows community in Boulder.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to The US National Parks, Sierra Club, PBS, NPR, Doctors Without Borders, or an organization of your choice.

A celebration of life will be held at St Andrew Presbyterian Church, 3700 Baseline Rd, Boulder, CO 80303 on Monday, Nov 3rd at 3pm. Reception to follow.