Margaret Edith (MacDonald) Covert died peacefully in her sleep Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2007.
Although Margaret (Maggie, Peggy, Madginator, Graham Cracker) lived outdoors and was very proud of her 11-acre property which she would try to work on every day she could by making trails and creating gardens all the while cursing at the deer that she always took pictures of — it was her messy, creative, colorful house that showed her true spirit and made us all feel at home and welcomed.
Margaret was born Oct. 6, 1929 at her home in Everett to parents William and Luella (McMaster) MacDonald, both of whom grew up on South Whidbey where Margaret would later return to live for 54 years, living her life on the original MacDonald homestead.
She was a graduate of Everett High School. In 1948, she married Roger Covert. They had four children; Stuart (Robin) Covert, Jamie (Joe) Huden, Kristin (Scott) Davis and Jon (Jennifer) Covert. Over the years she worked at various jobs including the Langley Bank, the Langley doctor’s office of Dr. Don Purdy and later Dr. Steve Shapiro.
In 1991, she retired from the South Whidbey School District where she worked as a custodian.
Margaret divorced in 1972 and began her inner spiritual journey.
She believed you created your own reality and although not conventional, at the end of the day, whether it be called love or God, He or She, Margaret definitely believed in a greater force than ourselves.
She also believed in volunteering. Her latest endeavors were Hearts & Hammers and the South Whidbey Garden Tour where she was a docent.
Margaret was very active. Besides working her land, chopping her own firewood, baking the best blackberry pies, she walked often with her sister Mary and Bob Harris and her cousin Claudia and Russ Ramsey to Kiichli’s Bagel Bakery.
She was a regular at the Clyde Theatre with her best friend Donna Schmidt. She was a quilter, a hooker (rugs) and an artist. She traveled extensively throughout the United States, only missing Alaska. She was proud of her simple life and loved a great find at garage sales.
Mom was a very generous soul who welcomed all to our big family gatherings. She would create special trails for Easter egg hunts and host Thanksgiving dinners for 20 to 40 people.
She was the best grandma to Kyle (Mercedes), Cory, Ben, Autum, Alec, Austen, Carson, Ian, Coleman and Rawley and great-grandma to Derrick, Jaina and Lauren.
Margaret can best be described by her own words in a poem she wrote given to us by her dear friend Phee:
Now that I’m old I’m free to be who I am; Magnificent Maggie with the golden tan from beautiful Whidbey Island. I’m in my woods making trails on the way to a secluded spot where I may lay reading a book if I so choose or taking a small restful snooze or even, if I feel like it, drinking booze. I don’t have to prove to anyone who I am. I do not yearn to be like anyone else. Life is simple. I choose how to live, by thinking my own thoughts, making my own rules. I’ll tell my greats and my grands fabulous stories, some true and some not. Really confuse them to what’s the truth and what’s not. When I get old enough to spin a yarn.
Margaret leaves behind many wonderful friends and family members. She will be missed beyond words.
Upon her request, there will be no memorial service, but please join us for a celebration of her life at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6 at the South Whidbey American Legion, Highway 525 in Bayview.
Remembrances in Margaret’s name can be made to Hearts & Hammers, PO Box 694, Langley, WA 98260 or any charity of your choice.
