Margaret "Peggy" Eleanor Hefty
August 23, 1930 - October 28, 2021
Obituary
Peggy Hefty died peacefully on October 28, 2021 at age 91 at A New Day adult family home in Federal Way, Washington. She was born in South Paris, Maine to Henry and Estelle West (Swearingen) on August 23, 1930, welcomed by her sisters Emily and Joyce.
At age 11, she, her sister Joyce and her parents moved to New Hampshire during WWII; her father, a skilled carpenter, worked in the shipyard on submarines and her mother, a skilled “fancy stitcher” made combat boots. The family moved back to their home in Maine after the war and Peggy graduated from South Paris High School and attended Farmington Teachers’ College, graduating in 1952.
In 1955 Peggy was hired by the DODDs to teach in Nagoya, Japan for the 55-56 school year. While there, Peggy took advantage of traveling not only in Japan, but also to Taiwan and Thailand. She then moved to Burtonwood, England for the 56-57 school year, traveled in Europe and as far south as Morocco. Peggy met Gerald “Jerry” Hefty who was also teaching in Burtonwood, and they were married on August 3, 1957. After traveling to both coasts in the US to celebrate with family, they moved to St Paul, MN where Jerry attended seminary.
After completing seminary, Jerry entered the US Army as a Lieutenant and Chaplain. Son Michael was born that summer in South Paris, ME, and Peggy’s sister Emily, a nurse, assisted in the delivery. The family then began their military life, moving every 3 years or so. Son Mark was born at Madigan Hospital in Tacoma, Washington in 1961, and daughter Mary was born in South Paris, Maine in 1963. Moves often involved cross-country treks with memorable Hefty family visits on the west coast and Shaw/Sprague family visits on the east coast. Peggy taught elementary school at most of the stations once the children were a little older. Peggy also received her Masters in Music Education in 1977 from Columbus College, Georgia.
After Jerry retired from the Army, they relocated back to the Pacific Northwest, ultimately making Everett their home. Peggy went to work for the Bon Marche around 1990, starting off in the candy department. In 1992, the Bon got the rights to sell the Frango mint chocolates, and in 1993 Peggy got “achiever” level in sales as a direct result of her Frango sales.
After retiring from the Bon Marche, Peggy enjoyed shopping, attending concerts and movies with friends, and spending time with family. She loved the people of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Everett and was active as a member of the choir and bell choir, church council, the annual holiday bazaar, and preschool board. After moving to Federal Way with her daughter in 2014, she became a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Federal Way and sang in the choir.
She is preceded in death by her parents and her sister Emily, and survived by her sister, Joyce Shaw (West) of South Paris, ME, three children: Michael Hefty and wife Teri Shuster-Hefty of Idaho Falls, ID, Mark Hefty and wife, Fotini (Tina) Hefty (Nickolaou), of Spokane, WA, and Mary Hefty of Federal Way, WA. Grandchildren include Caroline Hughes, Athanasios (Nick) Hughes, Rebecca Kim (Hefty) and husband Doug Kim, Gerald Hefty II, Matthew Hefty and wife Hannah Grant, and Megan Hefty; and 7 great grandchildren, and many beloved nieces, nephews, dear sisters-in-law and close friends.
The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Washington State Chapter, at http://act.alz.org/goto/PeggyHefty
We certainly enjoyed your mom Peggy. She was always happy. My favorite memory was her 90th covid deck party and also when you brought her over for Kyle’s graduation party. She will be missed.