Margaret "Peggy" Houghtaling

Margaret was born in 1933 to a pioneering family in Bozeman, Montana. Margaret and her parents, Angela and Edwin Alderson, moved to Everett, Washington when Margaret was young. She graduated from Everett High School and attended Washington State College on scholarship, majoring in Home Economics. While in Pullman, she met and married Ronald Gusa. They moved to Seattle and raised four children: Michael, Angela, Sharon, and Randy. After her divorce from Ron, Margaret returned to college and graduated from the University of Washington as a single mother with four teenagers. In 1978, Margaret married her long-time best friend, William (Bill) Houghtaling, and became a loving stepmother to her stepchildren Debbie, Sandy, and Sam.

Margaret and Bill enjoyed over 40 wonderful years together. They had many friends and loved to spend time at the ocean with friends and family. They traveled extensively around the country in their RV, and took many trips to see their children and grandchildren. Margaret enjoyed cross stitch projects and giving them as gifts to her friends and family, as well as reading, gardening, cooking, sharing meals around the family table, and spending time with her extended family. Baking delicious homemade cookies was Margaret’s way of thanking people, welcoming new neighbors, and showing her love. She was always caring for others in times of need and cared for her mother, Angela, in the last years of her life. She will be remembered for her kindness, her sense of humor, and for being a loving and generous mother, wife, grandmother, and great grandmother. She will be dearly missed by many.

Margaret died peacefully at home with family by her side, just as she wanted. She is survived by her children Michael, Angela (Mark Plut), Sharon (Chuck Quint), and Randy Gusa (Monica Treacy); by her stepchildren Sandy Bassman (Howard), Sam Houghtaling (Lisa Strahm Barker), and Debbie Hoyt (Randy); and by her grandchildren Olivia Miller (Dave Coyne), Kristine Quint (Chris Shank), Sabra Wall (Zayin), Riley Gusa, Elizabeth Amy (Aaron Anderson),William Houghtaling, Jennifer Houghtaling (Matthew Cyr), Rob Osborne (Nicole), Dan Osborne (Christina), and Mike Osborne (Seleece) and great grandchildren Everett Coyne, Roger, Leslee and Brooklyn Osborne, Devan Bagley, Taylor and Destiny Houghtaling.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Bill Houghtaling, her parents Angela and Edwin Alderson, daughter-in-law Kelly Gusa and grandson Jesse Houghtaling. A memorial will be held in her honor on Friday, August 18, 2023 at 1:00 at Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Northwest Neighbors Network: www.northwestneighborsnetwork.org.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at https://www.dignitymemorial.com for Margaret’s family.