Margaret A. Walker

Margaret Ann Samuelson Walker, aged 99, died at her home in Poulsbo, Washington, on Sunday, September 8, 2019. Daughters Laura Walker Mullins and Gail Walker Richmond, daughter-in-law Bonney Walker and grand-daughter Kelly Walker were with her in her final days. Margaret was pre-deceased by her husband, Allison Henry Walker of Hammond, IN.

Margaret Ann was born on August 3, 1920 at home in Towner, CO, to Maurice Anders Samuelson and Laura V. Mitchell Samuelson; Margaret joined older brothers Mitchell and Paul and, later, younger brother Robert. When she was six, the family moved to York, NB, where Margaret graduated from York High School in 1938. A favorite memory was seeing Charles Lindbergh at the local air strip on his barnstorming, long-distance flight across the country. She enjoyed picnics on the Big Blue River, playing her violin in orchestra, and working visits to the Samuelson homestead near Axtell, NB, for spring and fall planting and preserving, threshing and butchering, and family celebrations.

Moving again, the family relocated to the Mitchell home in Maquoketa, IA, to be close to the Mitchell family: her uncles, Pierce and George and their families. Margaret spent a year working at the local Ben Franklin Five-and-Ten store prior to attending Maquoketa Junior College.

Following in her parents' footsteps, Margaret graduated from Grinnell College in 1943, taught for one year in Geneseo, IA, moving next to Chicago and a job at Harris Trust & Savings Bank in the Loop. Margaret loved big city adventures as a single woman with fun roommates. She attended one of FDR's campaign speeches at Soldiers' Field, another oft-told story.

Margaret Ann met veteran Allison "Bud" Walker in February, 1946, at the Illiana Yacht Club, and the couple were married on Pleasant Street in Maquoketa, IA on July 7, 1946. On August 23, 1947, son Charles was born. After building a home in the Robertsdale/Whiting area of Hammond, IN, a short block from Wolf Lake, her daughter Gail was born on November 16, 1950, followed by Laura on July 4, 1952. Whiting, IN remained home for over 30 years.

Margaret began teaching in Hammond Public Schools in 1957. She was recognized as a leading educator with Hammond's Reading Teacher of the Year award, not once, but twice. Margaret was a pioneer in school library media and the integration of computers and technology in school media centers, but she always championed the importance of books and reading.

After Allison died in 1985, Margaret lived in Lansing, IL, enjoying Charles and his family. She had many trips north, south, east and especially west with her friend, Jay Keith. After Jay's passing, Margaret relocated to San Diego at the request of her daughter Gail and husband Scott, Laura, and Charles.

Margaret spent 22 years in San Diego, living first on Sutter Street in Mission Hills near the Mission Hills United Church of Christ and within walking distance of The Gathering, a favorite local bar and eatery. She played cut-throat bridge games at the San Diego Women's Club and participated in Walkabout tours in and about San Diego, in Santa Fe, and in Quebec City. After her second broken hip in 2009, she moved to Scripps Ranch with Gail and grand-daughter Elizabeth, first to Timberlake Drive and then to Larmier Circle near Scripps Ranch High School where Gail taught. In 2012, grand-daughter Kelly joined the family as Margaret's companion and later caregiver.

In late 2016 Margaret moved with Gail and Kelly to the Pacific Northwest and Poulsbo, WA, aptly nicknamed Viking City for the Norwegians, Swedes and Finns who settled the town. A Samuelson was right at home. The 100-year-old farmhouse on Odin Street became Margaret's last home, along with her beloved kitties, Olivia and Oliver, and guardian pups, Tybalt and Danny Boy. She was proud to say that she had lived in seven states, but that she was a true Westerner, born west of the 100th meridian, a defining factor first penned by Wallace Stegner and adopted by Margaret.

Margaret Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Maurice and Laura Samuelson; her husband, Allison H. Walker; her brothers and their wives: Mitchell and Dorothy Samuelson, Paul Samuelson, and Robert and Mary Helen Samuelson; nephew James Samuelson; nephew Robert Samuelson; and dear friend Jay Keith. She is survived by her three children: Charles Walker and wife Bonney McCrum-Walker of Homewood, IL; Gail Walker Richmond (husband Scott, deceased) of Poulsbo, WA; and Laura Walker Mullins and husband Gary Mullins of Birmingham, AL; grandchildren Elizabeth (Richmond) and husband Robert Dandy (great-grandchild, Cooper Charles Dandy) of Las Vegas, NV; Kelly Walker of Poulsbo, WA; and Alex Walker of Homewood, IL. Also surviving are cousins Helen Mitchell Rockrohr of Maquoketa, IA;
Marcia Heide Bloor of Mishawaka, IN; and Steven Dust and family of Waterloo, IA; niece Bettina Samuelson Esser and family of Chesterfield, MO; nephew John Samuelson and family of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; niece Jeanne Samuelson Ramsey of California; and great-niece Jessica Samuelson Coopheim of Moorpark, CA. Friends, neighbors, and colleagues will miss her stories and her smile.

Margaret Ann had an amazing life, sharing of herself freely with family and friends, providing a model of the modern woman with her career and family. She loved her travels back and forth across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and she told great stories about her life experiences.

We will miss her, but know she is happy with Allison, Scott, and the family and friends who are welcoming her to her spiritual home.

Special Thanks to CHI Franciscan Hospice and Nurse Suzanne, Social Worker Rebecca, and CNA Dave Anna for making Margaret's time at home possible.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to:

Kitsap County Humane Society
9167 Dickey Rd NW
Silverdale, WA 98383

or

Mission Hills Public Library Friends of the Library
215 W Washington St
San Diego, CA 92103

Arrangements are entrusted to Cook Family Funeral Home of Bainbridge Island.