Margaret (Peggy) Holder

Peggy was born June 02, 1920 in Helena, Montana and passed away March 14, 2012, in Puyallup, Washington. She was the daughter of the late Charles and Emma Buchmiller. She graduated from Helena High School in 1937. Her classes were held in train cars in her senior year due to an earthquake in Helena. She later met Carl Holder. They married on November 16, 1940, in Helena, and soon after moved to Tacoma, Washington. Together they raised three children: David, Dan & Pat.

Peggy was a stay-at-home Mom and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. She was an avid bowler, a Cub Scout leader, the bookkeeper and draftsman for her husband’s construction company, and was very involved in church work. After the children were raised and gone, Carl retired and they managed motels in California and Oregon, and an apartment building in Portland. In 1983, they retired and moved back to Washington to be close to their families. They took up residence in Puyallup.

Her husband, Carl, passed away in 1999. Shortly thereafter, a stray cat started hanging around her apartment and Peggy adopted her, naming the cat George. She and George became her great companions, and in 2006, together they moved to Spring Ridge Retirement Center in Tacoma. They lived there until late 2011. Due to a stroke, Peggy had to move to Linden Grove Health Care Center in Puyallup. She resided there until her death.

She is survived by her sons David (Elaine) of Tacoma, and Dan (Sue) of Olympia, and her daughter Pat (Jan) Gary of Puyallup, 8 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Carl Holder, grandson Jeff Gary,

sister Kathryn Strand and brother Fred Buchmiller.

A celebration of Peggy’s life will be held on March 31, from 1-4 p.m. at the home of her son, Dan, at 2024 Quince St. NE, in Olympia.

Please contact for directions etc.

David Holder - [email protected] - 253-538-4971

Dan Holder - [email protected] - 360-943-6438

Pat Gary - [email protected] - 253-845-2034