MARGARET IRENE HAY died on April 29th, 2016 at her home in Coupeville, WA. She was 86 years old. She was born Margaret Irene Carroll on November 1st, 1929, to parents James Gordon Carroll and Lulu Irene (Lowden) Carroll, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Born just days after the now infamous Big Crash of October, 1929, Margaret’s early years were turbulent. For part of her young life she was sent to live with relatives who owned a farm, while her older brothers sold pencils on Indianapolis street corners for pennies.

“Margie” had six siblings she dearly loved. After moving to Seattle, she rarely had a chance to see them and their few trips “out West” were memorable. They are: Mary Catherine (Cline), Jimmy (deceased), Bobby (deceased), Alan, Richard, and Patty Ann (Hastings). As the middle child, Margie was loved as little sister to three of them and big sister to the other three.

After graduating from Saint Agnes High School in 1947, Margaret decided to work in lieu of pursuing a higher education. The nuns at Saint Agnes told Margaret that with her intelligence, she should continue her education. Margaret, however, hated school, and that was that.
When she met Bill Hay, her life changed forever. They married on May 14th, 1949 in Indianapolis. Bill’s job caused them to move to South Bend where they lived until 1959. That was the year that they sold their South Bend home, packed up a U-Haul trailer, threw their seven children into their 1957 Chevrolet, and drove to Seattle, camping along the way. Bill had received a post card from a cousin who visited the Pacific Northwest. The cousin raved about the hunting and fishing, and Bill was hooked. He was working for Indiana Bell at the time and got a transfer to Pacific Northwest Bell in Seattle, WA with his best friend Dick Barson, also from Indiana. The Hay’s moved in August, and ”Maggie” gave birth to her first Seattle-born child that November (Michael). Bill bought a home in Seattle's Montlake district where they all lived for the next 30 years.

“Mrs. Hay” went back to work as soon as her youngest child started school. She worked at the University Village at the Village Laundromat and the candy store, cashiered at the Bunsmaster Bakery in North Seattle, and worked at Saint Joseph’s school cafeteria on Capitol Hill in Seattle as the beloved lunchlady. She was a constant figure at ball games and track meets her children participated in. She is remembered fondly by many, many of the Saint Joseph’s community, including her own children who attended church and elementary school there.

When Bill Hay retired in 1983, he began looking for his “dream” retirement property on Whidbey Island. Although “Maggie” had by that time become a staunch Seattleite, she had no choice: it was the “Island Life” for her! They moved to Coupeville in 1990. Within months, she refused to even visit Seattle, having fallen in love with Whidbey Island and its people. After attending St. Joseph's Catholic Church for so many years it didn't take her long to be embraced by her new St. Mary's congregation. She had an amazingly beautiful singing voice and enjoyed singing in St. Mary's choir. She never got the chance to join the chorus at St. Joseph's because she was too busy making sure all of her children were behaving themselves. She also relished making flower arrangements for St. Mary’s and often spoke of how rewarding that work was. She would glow just talking about it.

Together Bill and Margaret had twelve children in fifteen years: Gregory Thomas, Mark William, Judith Ann (Crown), Kathleen Marie (Lehman), Toni Theresa (Todd), Barbara Sue (Feathers), Christopher Joseph, Michael Alan, Jeffrey Vincent, Mary Elizabeth, Angela Noel (deceased)(Blodgett), and Patrick Edward. She also raised one grandchild, Marcus. At the time of “Granny’s” passing, she had thirty-one grandchildren (Keith, Nora, Kelli, Marcus, Gerrit, Dawn, Michelle, David A., Jr., Micah, Kayla, Jocelyn, Jenna, Gerald, Jr., Gabe, Sophie, Melanie, Jordan, Bernie, Christie, Nate, Jessie, Zachary, Ariel, Rachel, Dusty, Josiah, Luke, Jeremiah, Erik, Stephanie and Anthony) and twenty-two great-grandchildren (Savannah, Elliott, Ethan, Daniel, Brielle, William, Jude, Bijou, Morgan, Jayanna, Jayrah, Drayden, Gage, Jaden, Kiera, Tessa, Ahren, Church, Angelo, Leondro, Mason, and Jessiah).

Margaret, Margie, Maggie, Granny, Mom, and Mrs. Hay were the names she was known by. She was small. She claimed a height of 4’11”, which she might have reached in heels. But, although small in stature, she was very big in all matters of the heart. She will always be loved by everyone who ever had meaningful contact with her. She was warm, funny, and compassionate. She was generous, and yes, that is to a fault. Her smile was sincere and contagious. She is responsible for much island traffic from the mainland because her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren needed to visit her frequently. Some of them actually stayed on the island, and continue to live there.

Her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and her surviving brothers and sisters miss her greatly. Her departure has left gaping holes that memories, although plentiful and vivid, can not ever fill. Reducing Margaret’s life into a few paragraphs does not do justice to her impact and influence: she was one great lady.

A Funeral Mass will be Thursday, May 19, 2016, 11:00 AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, the Rev. Paul Pluth, celebrant. Reception will follow in the Church hall. Private interment will take place at Sunnyside Cemetery. Family and friends are encouraged to share memories and condolences at www.whidbeymemorial.com. Donations in her name can be made to either St. Mary's Church or to Hospice of Whidbey General.

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