Margaret MacKenzie

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Margaret “Meg” MacKenzie of Seattle, Washington. Meg was born in Seattle on November 12, 1938 to Dorothea Fletcher MacKenzie and Charles Stuart MacKenzie. They resided in Madison Park and she was a younger sister to Donald. Every summer the family visited Victoria, B.C. to visit the Fletcher side of the family whom had settled there from England. Meg attended McGilvra Elementary, Meany Middle School and graduated from Garfield High School in 1957. She enjoyed an active social life. Meg was a creative spirit, nurturing a growing passion for sketching and drawing. She continued her studies in Art and Architecture at the University of Washington and was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority.

Meg became engaged to Milton D. Scarlatos who was established in the business community and the owner of Storm & Scarlatos Insurance. They enjoyed their weekends on the ski slopes while he was Director of White Pass Ski School. Milt and Maggie were married in the Church of the Epiphany with a reception at Sand Point Country Club on February 14, 1962. Soon children followed and they made their home in Sand Point Country Club where they raised 4 daughters: Tiffany, Tori, Michon and Jenni. She was very active in the View Ridge Elementary PTA which had an annual, successful Bake Sale which she always produced delicious treats for. She and Milt were very active at Sand Point Country Club and volunteered countless hours between them on the Swim Team, Water Ballet committee and together planned many club house social events. Meg designed and sewed water ballet costumes and produced the annual swim team banquet slide show making sure that every swim team member was represented in the slide show. She and Milt developed keen passions for Tennis playing both Singles and Doubles.

They also spent countless hours at Snoqualmie, Crystal, Stevens and White Passes teaching 4 girls how to ski - no easy task for them even though Milt was a professional ski instructor for many years before their marriage. Our Mom’s commitment to getting all 4 girls up on skis and down the mountain every weekend of every winter is a testament to her commitment to her children which she proved time and time again in big ways and small ways throughout her life.

Meg continued her creative pursuits throughout her life and found her years in Santa Barbara, California to be enriching and fruitful. It was during her many decades in Santa Barbara that she was fully able to focus on her creative pursuits. While working she would spend her evenings and weekends developing her painting skills first on watercolors, then pastels and ultimately oils. She was a landscape painter and followed the Plein Aire style of painting and joined a pleine art group, S-C-A-P-E, Southern California Artists Painting for the Environment. Meg was Paint-Out Chair, organizing monthly paint outs in the local areas of Santa Barbara County. She was then invited to join the Board of Directors and voted President for 4 continuous 2 year terms.

Her retirement years were very active as she was also a member of the Santa Barbara Rose Society and spent countless hours tending to her abundant rose garden. She travelled to Europe visiting her parent’s birth places in England and Scotland and painted many landscapes in Italy. She made regular visits to Seattle to visit her daughters and her 5 grandchildren whom she loved very much: Josie, Luke and Marina Sellers and Michael and Margaret “Maggie” Lesirge.

She returned to Seattle and resided at the Ida Culver House in Broadview where she made many acquaintances and participated in outings and activities. Meg could be regularly found reading a book aside the rose garden which she regularly maintained with her dear cat, Ollie, keeping her company.

Her daughters were blessed to have her nearby and delighted to have her grand children spend many happy times with their Grams.

Meg passed away on Tuesday, April 9th, 2024. We are grateful for Providence Hospice who were extraordinary along with her lovely caregivers who provided care and support to our Mom in her final months.

Until the end our Mom remained determined and independent. She was eternally optimistic, positive and fun loving. She always looked for a reason to laugh and find moments of joy with the people around her. She was a role model to her daughters and grandchildren showing us how to love unconditionally and live life to its fullest. Meg was relentless in her pursuit of her dreams and she lived each day finding enjoyment, satisfaction and purpose.

Our Mom, Grams, cousin, Auntie, sister and friend will be missed but not forgotten.