After a century of living, Margaret Wildes Seals would not get to eat her 100th birthday cake. Born July 24, 1917, in a log cabin located on Wildes Road., Clinton, to Warren and Margaret Wildes, she went to be with Gene and her Savior on May 21, while surrounded by family.

She was the oldest of her sisters and was preceded in death by her brothers Scott, Warren, Clellan, Parker and Robert. She lost her sister, Jean, last year and is survived by her sister Elma Nelson of Bothell, Wash., and younger brother Lincoln Wildes (Janice) of Clinton.

Margaret attended Intervale School in the Maxwelton area from grades one through eight and before getting on the bus, would hide her coat in a log. Raised on Wildes Road, on a farm with horses, cattle, dogs and geese, her father lost his temper when the goose attacked Elma, and for smarting off to her dad, Margaret had to clean the goose for dinner.

After graduating from Langley High School in 1936, Margaret went to cosmetology school and opened a beauty shop on Capitol Hill. Margaret’s sister Jean brought her to a dance at Fort Lawton in Seattle, and it was there she met the love of her life, Gene B. They married Dec. 27, 1947, and celebrated 67 years together before Gene’s passing in 2015.

In 1948, Gene and Margaret bought 20 acres on Wildes Road, and in 1962, when Gene retired from the Army, returned to complete the house they had started for the family to move into. There, they raised daughters Margaret (Ed) Rieckelman and Patricia (Scott) Blouin.

Margaret glowed with happiness when her first grandchild came in 1981. Emily (Jeff) Barker would be spoiled by her grandparents until the first grandson came along in 1986. Parker Rieckelman would rule the roost until the last grandchild, Sharlie (Seth) Tassie, was born in 1988.

But then Savanna Tassie, her first and only great-grandchild, came into the world and was the ruby in her eye, and often she would join her great-grandma on her walk to bed and would cuddle for a few moments before blowing her kisses goodbye and goodnight. During Margaret’s final hours with Savanna, she was able to say goodbye and blow her a kiss back.

Margaret had many nephews, nieces and many neighbors who will miss her dearly. She was well cared for by the nurses – Cindy, Mai, Joan and Lannae of Hospice of Whidbey Island — and Dr. Sanders, who went above and beyond and enjoyed her stories. The family suggests donations to Hospice of Whidbey Island.

Her deep and abiding faith in God comforted her journey and she will be met at the Eastern gate by her family.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 31, at Bayview Cemetery, Langley, followed by a memorial service at 12:30 p.m. at the Little Brown Church on Maxwelton Road.