Margaret “Peggy” Kathryn Ott

Margaret “Peggy” (Lawton) Ott, 83, passed away peacefully at home with her family in Gig Harbor, WA on Sept. 27, 2023.

She was born Sept. 13, 1940, to Robert and Helen Lawton in Washtucna, Washington, making her grand entrance in the farm kitchen. She was raised on the Washtucna wheat farm, as well as in Beaverton, Oregon and Walla Walla, Washington. Margaret graduated Washtucna High School in 1958. She attended Gonzaga University and Portland State University – where she met the love of her life Frank Ott III. She later graduated with a degree in Interior Design from Bassist College, Portland, in 1983.

Margaret married Frank in 1962, kicking off many years of lively adventures including camping for the first time on their honeymoon with only one cooking pan in hand. She and Frank enjoyed raising their family together in Texas for a short time before settling in St Helens, Oregon until Frank’s untimely passing in 1981. She moved to Washington state in 1985.

She was a talented creative seamstress, stained-glass artist, green thumb, quirky garden art goddess, and antique aficionado. Many lucky diners enjoyed her delicious pies & baked treats, or her pot roast dinners. She loved her family deeply and she was generous with her talents, sewing prom dresses for her daughter’s friends, baby quilts for needy moms and decorating her children’s homes with custom curtains, hand-embroidered pillows, and much more.

Her zest for adventures started at the young age of 8 when she and her cousin stole the family rowboat and spent a full day rowing around Mercer Island to her family’s dismay. She hiked the Grand Canyon, floated the Colorado River in dory boats, traipsed across Europe and Greece, New Zealand and Australia. She traveled to Alaska nearly 30 times. Frank, an avid pilot, convinced her to learn to fly and she got her private pilot license.

After spending many years as a homemaker, Margaret became a certified real estate appraiser and successfully started and owned her business Ott Appraisals for more than 25 years. Margaret was a member of the Gig Harbor Kiwanis Club and the Catholic church.

She is survived by her children: Katrina (and Rob) Wilson of Bow, WA, grandchildren Stacey (and D’Arcy) Myette, Helen Wilson and Reid Wilson; Heidi (and Mike) Miles of Eagle River, AK, grandchildren Brendan Miles and Megan Miles; and Ambrose (and Stephanie) Ott of Gig Harbor, WA, grandchildren Aidan Ott and Owen Ott; and great grandchildren Ella and Luc Myette. She is also survived by her brother, Dr. Lawrence (and Joy) Lawton, her trusty four-legged companion Foxy, plus numerous family members and friends across the U.S. She was preceded in death by her husband Frank, sister Barbara, brother Richard, & her parents — all of whom she is reunited with in heaven.

Please join us for a Celebration of Life on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023 from 4-6pm at 4725 Murphy Drive NW, Gig Harbor WA. Need directions? Email [email protected]

Arrangements by Tuell-McKee Funeral Services: https://www.tuellmckee.com/obituaries. Donations in Margaret’s memory may be made to a volunteer organization or charity of your choice.