Peggy Jean Wilson

Peggy Jean (Boren) Wilson released her grip on this life Sunday morning, February 18, 2024, at the age of 95. Heralded by the songs and love of all her living children, she joined her savior and her beloved Harold in Paradise.

Peggy was born in Big Spring, Texas, on September 13, 1928, to M. L. and Annie (Wiseman) Boren. Most of her growing up years were spent on farms her family leased in the Abernathy area before moving to Muleshoe in 1943. There she met Harold Wilson, the love of her life, during their junior year of high school. They married in 1948 and added a new member to their family every year for the next three years, first Cathy, then Becky, then Tommy. In 1955, Mary Carol was born, and in 1960 Robin completed their family of seven.

Peggy and Harold farmed with his family until they were able to buy their own farm near Lazbuddie. There Peggy became a strong partner in the family business, keeping the books, writing the checks, and communicating with the banks and other contacts.

At the same time, she kept a clean and safe home, spread a delicious table, sewed all the children’s clothes that their grandmothers’ didn’t make, planted and tended their beautiful yard and garden, canned, baked, put up fruit and vegetables in the freezer, taught Bible classes, made quilts, provided lots of hospitality to family, friends, and business associates, and in the process taught her daughters to do the same. She also took her daughters to the field with her and taught them to work there. And occasionally, she made time to express her artistic gifts on canvas.

In 1964, the family moved to Willcox, Arizona, where she and Harold were able to increase the size of their farm, build a nice house in town, and finish raising their children. After Harold retired, they downsized and moved to Vail, where Harold golfed and Peggy planted another beautiful garden. Then in 2012, they moved to Marana to be closer to doctors and to their daughter Becky. Peggy’s last home was in the senior community Ranch Estates.

When asked what she would like to be said of her when she died, Peggy insisted that she didn’t want anyone to try to make her sound any better than she was. These are the things she agreed were true of herself: that she was quiet and liked to keep her own company, that she was indecisive and therefore most comfortable playing a supporting role, that she tried to be Harold’s wise counsel and partner and to provide the practical balance to his risk taking. She said she often thought of herself as being “the brakes.” She continued that she kept a clean, orderly, peaceful home and was a good cook and seamstress; that she could turn out some pretty nice needlepoint; that she had had a clear soprano voice; and that she was fiercely protective of her husband.

These are the things she said she held close to her heart: babies, birds, cooking and baking, flowers and gardening, poetry, and in later years puzzling.

Peggy loved nothing more than her Lord and his word, and she shared this love with her children. She taught them that he was always at the top of the list and the center of their family. She rose early every morning to spend time with him. For several years, she has read (aloud) through the Bible each year and noted the date she finished at the end of Revelation. If you walked by her closed door each day around the time she finished her reading, you would hear her singing hymns. Scraps of paper with prayer lists could be found in three different baskets she kept beside her sitting spots. She faithfully prayed for all her grandchildren and their families.

She was deeply loved by her family and leaves a void that can never be filled.

Peggy was predeceased by parents, M.L. and Annie Boren; husband of 67 years Harold Wilson; son Tommy; daughter Mary Carol Dolaghan; granddaughter Caitlin Dolaghan; sons-in-law Roy Gentner, John Dolaghan, and Jim Sayer; brothers John Boren and his wife Georgina, David Boren and his wife Hattie, and M.L. Boren Jr. and his wife Rose; father-in-law James Robert and mother-in-law Florence Lorene Wilson.

She is survived by: three daughters Cathy Sayer, Becky (Steve) Nuckolls, and Robin (Steve) Grimes; daughter-in-law Shannan Wilson; 15 grandchildren, Bob (JoAnn) Sayer, Lara (Cory) Sayer-Young, Annie (Joel) Rose, Stephen (Karine Hermes) Sayer, Bradley (Raven Bolas) Gentner, Jenna (Andrew) Elmer, Jimmy (Michelle) Wilson, Daniel (Jennifer) Wilson, Leona (Ernie) Bowman, Rachel Wilson, Peggy (Evan Smith) Dolaghan, Wilson Dolaghan, Sam (Dotti Peterson) Grimes, David (Evelyn Kritler) Grimes, and Sarah (Will) Bradshaw; 18 great grandchildren; brother-in-law Leon (Carolyn) Wilson; and 9 nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Peggy’s life will be held at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, March 13,

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Chapel on the NE campus,

7650 N Paseo del Norte Tucson, AZ 85704.

Memorial gifts may be made to New Mexico Christian Children’s Home (https://nmcch.org/donate/).