Peggy Beaver

Peggy Beaver, Life Enthusiast, 82 years of age, 64 years of marriage, Loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, grandmother
Mischievous, and fun loving
She was not lukewarm.

Peggy led a wonderful life. She met her husband Joe at a dance for servicemen in 1949, and they were soon married. Joe, was the love of her life, partner in travels and moves, and friend through the good and the bad. She may have been hard on him, at times, but she loved him to her core. While having many moments of difficulty during her final years, there were rays of sunshine where the Peggy he once knew would shine through and tell him she loved him, or grab his hand and hold on tight. If she needed to "go" she could always count on pop. She knew he was her rock all the way to the end. Their love was strong and endured many years, and much happiness.

Peggy desperately wanted children, and she was eventually blessed with 3, though she had to wait 9 years after marriage before the first would arrive. She poured her energy into her kids, Joe Dewayne, Jerry Lane, and Penny Elizabeth. She and Joe worked hard to provide their children with the perfect home. She strived to make each birthday a fabulous celebration. She wanted holidays to be special events. She loved helping us enjoy Halloween, and loved making it a big deal at our house so that she could see the little ones in our neighborhood come by. And then Easter. Her favorite day. Always made special for us kids and always remembered for the important day that it is. She was a spiritual person with a deep love for God and Christ, doing her best to raise children with a knowledge and reverence for faith. She and Joe raised their kids to leave the nest and make nests of their own. They fully accepted our mates into their hearts as more children and never again looked at their flock as 3 but always as 6, and later, 8.

Joe and Peggy have two Grandchildren, Elizabeth, and Christopher. These two wee ones, who are now 23 and 16, were the icing on the cake for mom and pop. Rounding out their lives fully. Peggy knew immediately that she wanted to be known as Gram to her grandchildren, well before they were born. Gram loved both grandchildren very much and very much enjoyed the time she got playing with them. Gram was always excited about any chance she got to see her grandchildren, and she and Joe would often drive halfway across Texas for the chance at a short few hour dinner with them. I know Peggy wished she could have spent more time with them and the grandchildren should know their Gram loved them very much.

Peggy deeply loved all her brothers and sisters and their extended families too. As a family, we went to several large Youngblood family reunions, and it was easy to see how much the Youngblood siblings (T.J., Anne, Buddy, Libby, & Bill) loved and cared for each other and their extended families. We believe Peggy has gone to a better place and right now is with those preceding her death: TJ Youngblood, Bill Youngblood, Libby Youngblood Proffer, Ed Nicholas, Bob Proffer, Tommy Youngblood, and young Ann Shockey, and if they aren't in Heaven's version of Sunday school, then they are either in a spirited political debate, or playing practical jokes on each other. She is also preceded in death by her parents Thomas jefferson youngblood, Sr, and Cornelia Ann Duvall Youngblood. Peggy is survived by sisters on her side of the family: Anne Nicholas and Buddy Shockey, her sister in law Jeanie Youngblood, and sister in law Judge Youngblood. Peggy deeply loved her husband Joe's extended family too, and on that side of the family she is survived by Joe's sister Jenna Blalock and her husband Jim. Both sides of the family had many children, neices and nephews to Peggy, whom were all loved and their lives were watched through the lens of close communication with all her siblings. Joe and Peggy spent many years of their lives not living in the same city as their extended families and used phone calls, long family letters, and the occasional family reunions to keep the families tied together. Growing up as her children, it was not easy to tell which set of aunt/uncle/cousin was related to Peggy, and which was related to Joe. We just felt like they both just completely loved each other's family. She was extremely proud of all of them and often bragged about each in different ways.

Life has a way of sanding off our edges, wearing out our threads, and life did not spare Peggy. Through many hardships, both emotional and physical, she found her way, using music, humor, family, and a love for God to get her through. Even in the last few years where she was hurting some physically, whenever that was brought up, she would say "it doesn't matter" and she really meant it. She didn't want to focus on physical pain at all. She'd had plenty of it through the years and had learned to stare it down. I guess in her wisdom of years she knew focusing on something else was a great pain reliever. The emotional pain of Alzheimer's was a little harder to brush aside. But she cried when she needed to, and allowed us to comfort her by crying with her, holding and hugging her. Then we would continue on. She was a very strong woman. Her last two years, she was supported by her special caretaker, Barbara Lee, whom she loved and was loved by in return. Barbara helped to make the days easier to face for Peggy, and our family will always be grateful to her for her tender kindness.

We children of Joe and Peggy, are pretty ordinary people, with ordinary lives, but we have shared in the lives of two extraordinary parents. From the time I was little I remember being told stories of my big brothers all the time. She instilled in each of us love and respect for each other, as she had for us. We all could have done whatever our hearts had led us to in this world, on the heels of their love. Mom was always there with an encouraging word delivered with sincerity. She would get into the trenches of sorrow with you and be there to help you climb out. She would send clippings and letters to uplift us and brighten our day. She would never point out the negative just to be honest. She would stay quiet, so as to never be the reason for someone else's unhappiness. She would encourage and support, give kindness and love.

That's just who she was, kind, gentle, sweet, loving, all wrapped up in a mischievous grown up who never wanted to stop being a kid.

She left us on Easter, a day we can't mourn, but only celebrate. Even in leaving the earth she left with a message of happiness and new life. She will be missed and always loved.