Peggy Joyce Horner

Peggy met the love of her life, Jack Horner, at the USO in Key West during WWII. They were happily married for almost 60 years until Jack’s death in 2003. Peggy was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, cook, and friend. Peggy is survived by her children Desta (Stephen McKenney Steck) and John (Paula), by grandchildren, Mike Horner (Abby), Debby Horner (David Williams), Cheryl McDonough (Bart), Catherine McManus (Sean), and 8 great grandchildren.

Peggy grew up in Miami, and moved to Key West during World War II. Peggy met Jack at the USO, when he spotted her across the room and asked her to dance to Glenn Miller. While Jack served in the Navy during the war, Peggy sent him a letter every day. After the war, Jack and Peggy stayed with the Navy, and they moved from town to town for many different postings, including a beautiful tour of duty in Bermuda. Their final transfer was to Sanford, Florida, in the 1950s. While Jack served as president of the Sanford Chamber of Commerce, Peggy volunteered with the Red Cross as a water safety instructor and canoeing teacher.

Peggy was renowned for her handiness, from sewing clothes for herself and the rest of the family, to leatherwork and ceramics. She loved to drive and was usually the one behind the wheel when she and Jack set out on long, cross-country adventures in their big RV.

More than anything, Peggy’s life was devoted to her family. She made a home for herself and Jack wherever they went, and happily made the best of what they had, rather than worrying about what they didn’t. She loved to tell stories about living in a one-room converted chicken coop with Jack and Desta when housing was scarce after the War. Her devotion was truly life-long. When Desta was a teacher on her way to work, she would deliver Mike and Debby to their grandparents early in the morning, still in their pajamas, and half-asleep. Peggy would feed them and sing to them and get them off to school. Peggy also cared for her own aging mother, just as Desta later cared for Peggy. Throughout all of those years Peggy hosted more family meals than anyone could ever count. If Jack was the strong, outgoing one (and he was), Peggy was the quiet heart of her family: the planner, the advisor, the mender, and the maker of the world’s best Key Lime cake.

In her later years, Peggy lived at the Westminster Winter Park community, where she met many good friends playing cards and Bingo and doing water aerobics, and enjoyed happy twilight years.

Peggy was always there to help whenever and wherever called by family, friends, or anyone in the community. She passed that spirit on to her children and grandchildren. We will miss her warm and loving ways and she will dwell in our hearts forever.