Obituaries

MAXSON, Margaret

Margaret Ann Maxson “Doodie” 82 of Westbank, BC passed on peacefully June 27, 2011 in Kelowna General Hospital after a brief illness. Margaret was born in Kelowna November 1, 1928, the daughter of Okanagan Pioneers, Richard and Marjorie Pritchard who had moved to the area in 1919. Margaret grew up in Westbank and began her education in the two-room school taught by her mother. She graduated from the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Vancouver where she was a Prefect and won honours in Academics, Badminton and Basketball. She attended The University of British Columbia.
Other than a brief stay in the Caribou, she has lived in Westbank her entire life. She worked as a Women’s editor for the Kelowna Courier; BC Tree Fruits and was a Secretary at George Pringle High School. She volunteered at St. George’s Church playing the organ for Sunday School and singing in the Choir; she was the secretary for the Kelowna Riding Club; she was the founding president of the PTA at Westbank Elementary; she acted as secretary for the Westbank Chamber of Commerce. As an avid fan of civil government, Margaret was one of the original founders of the Westbank Neighbourhood Association, Chairman of the Westbank Irrigation District at a time of critical change, and was jokingly called “Mayor Marg”. She cared deeply about Westbank and worked hard toward a strong and attractive community core.
She loved all things particularly horses, dogs and cats as well as her garden. Margaret was very proud of the awards she won for her roses at the fall fairs. She was, above all, an orchardist all her life and was able to succeed at a time when there were few women in the field. She was very proud of often being “top grower” at the packing house.
Margaret is survived by her daughter Christyanne Maxson, son-in-law Bruce Colford; grandchildren Kaleigh and Sean Colford of San Diego, Sister Bobbi Coates, Sister-in-law Eleanor Pritchard; Nephews John, Mark and Andrew Pritchard, Matthew and Geoff Coates and Niece, Jane Pritchard. She was predeceased by her brother Dudley Pritchard, sister Joan Pritchard Weston and her ex-husband Howard Maxson. There will be a Service Thursday July 7, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. at St. George's Anglican Church 3690 Brown Road, Westbank, B.C. Donations may be made in Margaret's Memory to The Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. or the Canadian Diabetes Association.
Messages of condolence sharing your great memories of Margaret may be sent to the family by visiting www.hansonsfuneral.com. Arrangements are entrusted to HANSONS ARBOR WESTWOOD FUNERAL CHAPEL in West Kelowna.

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