Margaret Louise "Peggy" Lavanway

Margaret Louise “Peggy” LaVanway nee Ingleright, a girl child born, welcomed and much loved to Leon Ray “Doc” Ingleright II and Margaret Williams Ingleright nee Murphy, September 10, 1927 in Niles, Michigan. She died November 26, 2022.

Born with living grandparents and great-grandparents, uncles and aunts on both mother’s and father’s sides, Peggy understood death in large families comes at a cadenced frequency, and she taught her children to know that Death gives to Life all its value.

Peggy was married for 68 love-filled years to Marvin Lee “Rip” LaVanway, who went ahead December 2, 2015 to prepare a place for her.

Matriarch to our large family for almost 75 of her 95 years, four children were born to them: Margaret Elaine (Ed, deceased) Dorstewitz, M. Lee (Rebecca) LaVanway, Marcia Lucretia (Ted Strong, deceased) LaVanway, Marc Ray (Cindy) LaVanway; and 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

The Truly Great

I think continually of those who were truly great.

Who from the womb, remembered the soul’s history

Through corridors of light where the hours are suns,

Endless and singing. Whose lovely ambition

Was that their lips, still touched with fire,

Should tell of the spirit clothed from head to foot in song.

And who hoarded from the spring branches

The desires falling across their bodies like blossoms.

by Sir Stephan Spender

Living among great oaks and lovingly cared for to the last by Jan and Ted Oles at Oak Crest AFC in Niles, Peggy died the way she lived—happily singing with her family.

A Celebration of Life is planned for late spring when blossoms bloom once more. Messages and memories may be shared online at www.bowermanfuneral.com.