The family moved to Corvallis when she was 4 years old. She attended Washington Elementary and Corvallis Junior High schools, and graduated from Corvallis High School in 1948. She attended Oregon State College (now Oregon State University) for two years, and was a member of Alpha Chi Omega Social Sorority, as well as several scholastic honoraries.
After spending a year at University of Oregon, she transferred to University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo., where she graduated with a bachelor of arts in elementary education. She was a teacher in five states over a 20-year period. One of her positions was at Punahou Academy, a prestigious private school in Honolulu. Another was one year at Roosevelt Elementary School in Corvallis.
Peggy married Jerry McCafferty on Aug. 18, 1956, at the Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan in Corvallis. They had two children: a daughter, Kelly, and a son, Mark.
Jerry died suddenly in 1992, and Peggy moved from California back home to Oregon in 1993. She worked for 10 years in the Benton County clerk's office in Corvallis, retiring in 2006. When not working, she was active in the League of Women Voters, was on the board of directors of two different medical centers, and worked with hospital auxiliaries in both California and Oregon.
Peggy will be remembered for her great zest and love of life. She deeply loved the ocean, was an ardent "sun worshipper" and loved to entertain. She was happiest when she was among friends, some since first grade.
She is survived by daughter, Kelly; four grandchildren, Kristy Martine, Casey Eugene, Dori Natalia and Meredith Sierra, all of Nebraska; brother-in-law Dr. Dennis McCafferty and wife Estelle of Eugene; niece Page Clothier, husband Bill and children Kelty and Wedge; niece Leslie Kearsey, husband Michael and children Rose and Weston, all of Portland; and a son, Mark, of California.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, at Pleasure Acres Thoroughbred Farm, 1521 N.E. Highway 20, near Hewlett-Packard in Corvallis. The family suggests donations can be made to the Jerry McCafferty Phi Delta Theta Scholarship Fund at OSU for Good Fellowship, or to the Mario Pastega House in care of McHenry Funeral Home.
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