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Margaret Ann Eggart

Margaret Ann Eggart was born Dec. 19, 1928, in Port Huron, Mich., to parents Thomas Henry “Harry” and Edith Maltas. In her early years they lived in Baltimore, Md., Washington, D.C. and New Hampshire before moving back to the family farm near Capac, Mich., where she graduated from high school in 1946. She spent most of her childhood living in a three-generation household, and her grandparents influenced her greatly.

Following high school she attended college, but she took a year off after her junior year and worked at Ford Motor Company. In 1952, Margaret earned a bachelor’s degree in music education at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. She traveled to Glacier National Park to visit her friend and former college roommate, Beth, who was working there and they continued together to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where she met the man who was to become her future husband.

In 1953 she bought a new Chevrolet car from her brother-in-law, Harold, who had purchased 10 with a fleet discount, and her sister Jeanne rode with her out to Post Falls, Idaho. She went to a meeting in Spokane, Wash., in August, and learned the only teaching job available in the area was in Lind, Wash. Having been raised on a farm she thought that would work, so she accepted the position and taught there for two years.

In August of 1955 she married Ronald Everet Eggart from Post Falls, and the couple made their home in Kellogg, Idaho. She was a devoted wife and mother of four children. She traveled to Michigan to visit family almost every year until she had children, and then less frequently.

Margaret was a school teacher in Kellogg for many years and was a gifted musician who directed choir for 40 years at the United Church of Kellogg/Mountain View Congregational Church. She also taught private piano lessons for much of that time and was always willing to share her faith in Jesus. She and Ron were Gideons and distributed Bibles in hospitals and nursing homes.

After Ron’s death in 2012, Margaret lived briefly in Coeur d’Alene before moving to Monroe House, in Moses Lake, Wash. Many people there appreciated her quick wit, laughter and kindness.

Margaret is survived by sons, Dan of Spirit Lake, Idaho and Gary of Spur, Texas; daughter, Carol Knopp of Moses Lake; 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; and her sister, Jeanne Decker of Port Huron, Mich. Margaret was a wonderful and nurturing mother, grandmother and wife, and she will be missed greatly.

Margaret is preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Edith; husband Ron, and daughter, Mary Ann Palmer.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, at Mountain View Congregational Church, a.k.a. United Church of Kellogg, in Kellogg, Idaho. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Mountain View Congregational Church, 525 W Cameron Ave., Kellogg, ID, 83837.