Margaret Claudine Dayton

Margaret Claudine Dayton, aged 94, a Fort Collins resident for forty-five years, died Monday, August 12 of an acute illness. Born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado to Claudine and James McGill, Margaret left high school and married young to her lifelong partner of 63 years, Malcolm R. Dayton. They moved to Durango, Colorado to raise their family, and lived out their remaining years as residents of Fort Collins. Margaret was preceded in death by her first-born son at birth, husband Malcolm R., her parents, a sister Mae McGill of Pueblo, two great-grandsons Danny Calloway & Dillon Egger, and a son-in-law Bill Pearce. She is survived by a brother Jim McGill, Pueblo and her four children: Doris Pearce and Carol Morlan & husband, Bob of Durango, and Beverly Dayton and Malcolm F. Dayton & wife, Teresa of Fort Collins. Margaret's passion was her family and her life-long commitment was living her spirituality. She was a long-time parishioner of St. Joseph Catholic Church. She worked as a telephone operator for 30 years for Mountain Bell Telephone. Later in life, she became an award-winning Avon Representative, and was also awarded The Avon Spirit Award for her hardy grace as a breast cancer survivor and for her care in managing Malcolm's end-of-life Alzheimer's disease. Margaret was devoted to her 4 children, her 16 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great-grandchildren. Her later years and days were spent communicating with and caring for her extended family members. Mom was a "Die Hard Bronco Fan" -- Her competiveness and humor resulted in many novel ways to pay her losses. Her playful hobby was as a late-in-life computer-jockey. She will always be lovingly remembered as "Mom" and "Granma Marg". She is fondly remembered by friends for living with her heart-wide-open. A Celebration of Life will occur at her home, this Sunday, August 18 from 1:00 to 3:00. Friends who would like to drop-in are asked to please call 970-689-4247 for directions. Contributions can be made in her name to St. Joseph Catholic Church or The Alzheimer's Association Funeral and burial services will be conducted September 7, 2013, at 10:00 A.M. at St. Columba Catholic Church in Durango, Colorado.

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Margaret Claudine Dayton

April 15, 1919 - August 12, 2013