Margaret Mae Blakey Presson

Margaret Presson passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 4, 2012 comforted with family at the Washington Odd Fellows Nursing Home.

Margaret was born February 19, 1926 in Three Sands, Oklahoma to Al Blakey Sr. & Odessa Neill Blakey. Margaret attended school in Oklahoma and graduated from Capitol Hill Sr. High where she was a member and competed with the swim team in May of 1944.

After graduation, she worked at the Capitol Hill Theater popping corn for $.25 per hour. Margaret also worked during the day at Nichols Hill bus station bussing sailors to & from Norman, Oklahoma. This is where she met Donald Presson who soon became her husband on June 20, 1945. Margaret & Don started a family and Margaret became a devoted mother & homemaker. Margaret & Don were married 53 years and had 4 children.

Don & Margaret moved to Walla Walla in 1971 and later began managing the Flying J gas station where many remember Margaret as the “Tootsie Roll Lady.” In the late 80s, Margaret became a Para Educator for the Dixie School District where she enjoying working with many special needs kids and assisting in the library until she retired in 2002. Margaret also worked at K-Mart as that spunky door greeter that you couldn’t help but smile at and engage in a conversation with. Margaret was a longtime active member of First Christian Church in Dixie.

She is survived by 2 sons & daughter-in-law, Allen & Alisa Presson & Herbert Presson; daughter & son-in-law, Ouida & Scott McKay; 7 grandchildren, Fred McPherson, Jr., Cimmaron & LaKresha Perkins, Calyn Pence, Angela, Alicia and Britney Presson and several great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Don; her daughter, Donna Hylton; brothers, Al & Earl Blakey; a sister, Cora Marie Blakey and her parents.

Those that were blessed enough to know Margaret knew she always had a smile on her face & a definite ornery side and never knew a stranger.

A celebration of life potluck will be held on Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 2:00 PM at the Dixie School in Dixie, Washington. Memorial contributions may be made Margaret’s name to the Blue Mountain Humane Society or Walla Walla Community Hospice through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, WA.

A special thank you to Hospice & Margaret’s church family for assisting in Margaret’s comfort.