Obituary of Margaret SEXTON

Margaret I. Sexton, 85, passed away January 3, 2009 in Lake Havasu City, AZ. She was born in Montreal, Canada on January 19, 1923.Margaret traveled to New York as a young girl with her husband, John and then to California. She and John shared many years of laughter and good times together. Her life was a simple plan but well thought out. During her later years she moved on her own to New York. Margaret lived in Leisure Village in West New Jersey from 1994 to 2004, close in distance to her surviving sister Mildred and family in New York and New Jersey. In 2004 Margaret moved out to Arizona.Margaret shared many family stories and experiences that distance takes away. You could almost visualize her business with the convenience gas station run by her and husband John up North in Lake Tahoe, CA. From her snow stories in Redding to fishing on the lake, she made you feel what the real pleasures were in her life. John Wayne movies were her most favorite.Margaret was the "family athlete" of the women in her family. She was a champion swimmer in Canada as a young girl, enjoyed winter sports, loved fishing and camping and played lots of golf, not to mention the sport of cards. She loved her cards and people loved playing cards with her. She also enjoyed a good joke with her hardy laughter. Margaret was also a great "gadget" collector; she always came up with a nifty tool that she added to her collection.During her adult years, Margaret was a care giver to family from the youngest to the oldest. She never turned a job down because it was too hard but always found a way to tackle it, to get it done. Courage and fortitude was her greatest of attributes. The greatest legacy she leaves behind is how insufficient we are in the universe, but how important we are to each other.The following are excerpts from Margaret's family:Dear Aunt Margaret: My friend, buddy and a mom! As far as I can remember Margaret was always there to help have fun and take care! Way back when Margaret and John had an old boat, a Javelin Margaret went to the Boat Store to get an O-ring when she came out, to John's surprise they now owned a new boat! Margaret named that boat "The O-Ring". It was on that boat I spent every summer learning to water ski and became a good swimmer. In the beginning, Margaret would hold me out in the water to steady me and John would drive the boat. "Hit it", Margaret would say and off we would go to try to learn to water ski! After a good day on the lake we would head out for miniature golf. In the evening we would feed the deer at Shasta Dam area. Margaret and my mother, Joann would take us boys and teach us as much as we could learn. A friend, teacher, mother and buddy even playing games with us. Later in life I was so lucky to sit on the porch with Margaret. We would enjoy a cocktail before dinner in the evening. We went to market every Saturday morning. Let me tell you, Margaret would be waiting ready to go off to market. Margaret was always rearing to go, ready for another adventure. She was loved by all she came in contact with. We all miss and love you so very, very much, Margaret. Love you, NeilWhen I think of Aunt Margaret, the first thing that comes to mind is laughter. Aunt Margaret always enjoyed a good time. She loved the outdoors and helping others. She lived for today and didn't worry much about tomorrow. She believed deeply in family and the ties that bind them together. Margaret believed that family should be there for each other, and she was always there for them. When her husband, Johnny fell ill, she was by his side until the end. When the health of her brother-in-law Ray declined, she was with her sister Emily to help care for him. When her sister Emily became ill, Margaret cared for her as well. Finally when her sister Jean was in the final weeks with her battle with cancer, Margaret flew to California to help care for her. Margaret was a willing servant of others. She lived and modeled the essence of family for me. I will always remember Aunt Margaret's voracious laughter. CherylI remember so clearly my visits with Aunt Margaret when she was living in Tahoe Paradise. She always made me feel like I was at home, despite the fact that I was 3000 miles from home! She knew how much I lived to ski and made sure I found my way to the local ski areas and had lots of fun with her and Uncle John "après ski". I still have her golf hat from the Tahoe Paradise Golf Club. Chuck When I think of Aunt Margaret, I think of kindness, hospitality and laughter. In my teen years, Margaret touched my life in a way I will always treasure. She and Johnny opened their hearts and their home to me and allowed me to experience life as their "daughter". I lived and worked with them for 2-3 months during my summer after graduation. Being a teenager, I am sure I was a challenge for them at times, but that never stopped them from showing me how much they loved me. Two years later, they again opened their hearts and home to me and my husband as we visited them in Lake Tahoe. We were given the wonderful opportunity to enjoy dinner with Margaret and Liberace! These are just a couple of memories of Margaret in my life and she will be truly missed. We love you Aunt Margaret! Barbara and Gene RiederMargaret leaves behind many nieces and nephews who regarded her more as a mother figure, than an aunt.Thoughts and condolences may be submitted to the family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.comArrangements were placed under the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home & Crematory.