Margaret May Johnston

Peggy passed away peacefully on August 10 at age 91. Peggy was born in Penticton on June 7, 1932, the first child of Hugh and Muriel (Wilson) Johnston. Survived by her brother Bill Johnston (Pat), nieces and nephews Shaun Johnston, Craig Johnston (Dana Cupples), Clark Johnston (Debbie Witham), and Claire Johnston (Jamie Clerf) and great nephew and nieces Aaron Johnston, Lily Clerf and Robyn Clerf.

Peggy graduated from Penticton Secondary and went on to Normal School for her teacher training, later completing a Bachelor of Education degree from UBC. Peggy taught elementary classes in Keremeos, Trail, Penticton, and Nanaimo before settling in Kamloops for the majority of her career. There she taught in four different schools at the primary level and introduced her young students to Anne of Green Gables among other favorite books. After 35 years of teaching, Peggy retired in 1988. She enjoyed her community and her circle of friends in Kamloops, so she chose to continue living there in her retirement.

Peggy was passionate about music. She learned to play the piano in her youth and could be counted on to accompany family sing-a-longs especially at Christmas. Peggy joined the Summerland Singers and Players and performed in operettas. She passed on her love of music to her students over the years. She regularly attended the Kamloops Symphony and made numerous trips to Vancouver to attend the opera.

Peggy loved gardening, faithfully tending the flower beds outside her townhouse and on a strip of adjacent land. She enjoyed fishing the lakes around Kamloops with her friend Pat. She accompanied Bill and his family on several hiking trips.

Peggy enjoyed travelling - from solo road trips to visit relatives in the States, to bus trips with friends, to longer excursions. A tour of Ireland and Northern Ireland gave her the opportunity to explore some of her family roots in her later years.

Special thanks to her long-time family physician Dr. Sophie Weimar, her kind and supportive friends and neighbours in Kamloops, and the caring staff of the Village at Mill Creek in Kelowna.

A generous and caring person, always willing to lend a hand, Peggy will be sadly missed by her family and friends.

Memorial donations may be made to the Kamloops Symphony or to a charity of your choice.

A celebration of life for Peggy will be held on Friday, September 8 at 11:00 a.m. at Romeo’s Studio in the Coast Hotel, 1250 Rogers Way, Kamloops.

Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.firstmemorialfuneralkelowna.com

Arrangements entrusted with First Memorial Funeral Services, Kelowna, BC 250-762-2299