Peggy "Meddie" A. Dale

Peggy Dale (Meddie Ann Kelly) was born in Tucumcari, NM, in 1933; she died in Vancouver, WA, in Feb. 2021. She was the daughter of Dan Kelly (railroad man and farmer) and Nova Simpson Kelly (housewife and beekeeper), and beloved baby sister to brothers Dan Jr. and Debs, and sister Kathleen. She adopted the name Peggy when she attended New Mexico State University, and met Harry Dale there. Both were lifelong musicians: he played the clarinet and was drum major in the Aggies marching band; she played the baritone in the band and piano in jazz clubs. They were together from their first date on and married in 1954. They had three children: Karen, Ken, and Marilyn. Harry started off teaching music, but switched to high school math. Peggy became an elementary school teacher after the kids started school. The family left New Mexico and moved to Vancouver in 1968, and both continued teaching here. They each had a lasting impact on their students. Peggy was often approached by adults who had been previous students, and almost always remembered their names. Harry died in 1982. Peggy never stopped missing him, but continued living her life and trying new things. She spent 30 years as an Oregon Zoo Guide, working with bears and penguins in addition to conducting animal talks and zoo camps. She taught craft classes at the Vancouver VA Hospital and made pocket crosses at the Friends of the Carpenter. She was an ardent hockey fan and made several trips to Canada with the Portland Winterhawks Booster Club. She scuba dived in the Cayman Islands and Fiji, and took an unplanned trip to Australia. She saw the start of the Iditarod in Alaska and visited Glacier National Park often. She was a master quilter and loved spending time at the beach. Peggy was the last of her generation. She was a beloved mother, grandmother of 10, and great-grandmother of 16. She was the matriarch of the family and kept connections with her nieces and nephews strong. She was a blessing and is missed by all. Her memorial will be held at 1 p.m. June 19, at First Presbyterian Church in Vancouver, WA. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Friends of the Carpenter in Vancouver (friendsofthecarpenter.org).

Peggy "Meddie" A. Dale

June 3, 1933 - February 24, 2021