Margaret “Peggy” Morss Stokes, 79, passed away unexpectedly at the Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin on Tuesday, May 24, 2016. Born in Summit, New Jersey, on August 27, 1936, she was the daughter of the late Dwight Foster Morss and Dorothy (Kinne) Morss. On November 22, 1958, she married John Bigham Stokes in Mantoloking, New Jersey.
Peggy grew up in Madison, New Jersey. She attended high school at Chatham Hall in Chatham, Virginia, and continued her education at Connecticut College, graduating in 1958. Peggy began her career at Schering Corp. in Bloomfield, New Jersey, where she worked in research in its medical library. Upon starting her family, Peggy was busy as a homemaker, raising her children and volunteering her time to the Westfield (New Jersey) Rescue Squad, was a Girl Scout leader for her three daughters and volunteered for a number of organizations through the Westfield Service League. She later was employed as the office manager for Sue Sanderson Inc., a wholesale tabletop giftware company.
Peggy and her family had enjoyed weekends at their ski house they built in 1964 in the Mad River Valley town of Fayston and following John and Peggy’s retirement, have made it their permanent home since 1996. Not one to idle, Peggy has worked part time as an office administrator and note-taker for a hearing impaired student for over six years at Green Mountain Valley School, a job she thoroughly enjoyed. She also found purpose and fulfillment through Waitsfield United Church of Christ where she served as church secretary and scheduler of events, volunteered for all of the church’s activities, was a church delegate to the state conference and was a member of the steering committee for the current Capital Campaign. In addition, she served as secretary for the Fayston Historical Society, was a member of the Waitsfield-Warren Synergy Group, was a member of the National Ski Patrol and was a camper and counselor at Camp Wohelo on Lake Sebago (Maine) where she taught sailing.
Peggy will be lovingly remembered for her enjoyment and creativity as a knitter, making family members numerous sweaters and blankets as well as prayer shawls and blankets for the needy and sick; for her love of tennis, swimming, bridge and book club and attending her grandchildren’s sporting events, actively following them all plus often volunteering to help; and her love of her many canine and feline companions throughout the years. Since moving to Vermont in 1996, she has enjoyed three extended sailing trips on the Sea of Cortez in Mexico, around the islands of Tahiti and the Greek Isles. After hanging up her own skis, she turned her attention to making huge family meals at her home for her kids and grandkids following a long day of skiing.
Peggy is loved and mourned by her husband of nearly 58 years, John B. Stokes of Fayston; their children and families, Earle B. Stokes and his wife Marcia of Westford, Massachusetts, and their children Ethan and Katherine, Sarah Stokes Despres and her husband James of Fayston and their children Jack and T.K., Susan Stokes Parent and her husband Andre of Williston and their children Lauren and Elizabeth, Leigh Stokes of Park City, Utah, and her son Gabe; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family. Peggy was predeceased by her sister, Sally M. McCracken, and a brother, Dwight F. Morss Jr.
A celebration for the life of Margaret “Peggy” Stokes will be held at Waitsfield United Church of Christ, 4335 Main Street, Waitsfield, VT, on June 25, 2016, at 11 a.m. with a reception to follow in the church dining room. Private inurnment will be in the South Fayston Cemetery. The family requests that flowers be omitted; rather memorial gifts would be appreciated to Waitsfield United Church of Christ Capital Campaign, attention Financial Secretary, P.O. Box 16, Waitsfield, VT 05673. Assisting the family is Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury. To send online condolences visit www.perkinsparker.com.
