Margaret Marquette Depue

Margaret was widely known as a kind, conscientious, intelligent woman with a keen sense of humor—someone who was always looking to uplift others. She had a notable ability to turn any situation around into something positive. She was also a particularly good listener who sought, in quiet and unassuming ways, to make the world around her better.

She loved to cook, exercise, travel, and spend time with friends and family. She was known for her remarkably neat and straight penmanship in the many cards and letters she wrote, unfailingly remembering the important events of her loved ones’ lives.

Margaret was born in Harrisonburg, Virginia, on July 28, 1944, to George and Jennie Marquette, the second of three children. In 1948, the family moved to upstate New York, eventually settling down in the rural village of Greene, New York. Margaret attended Greene Central High School and was active in the school choir, field hockey, and archery. She obtained a bachelor's degree in education from the State University of New York in Oneonta.

Margaret’s first job was teaching English in Ballston Spa, New York after which she pursued a career in library science, going to the University of Denver for her training. Upon earning her degree, Margaret worked overseas for the U.S. Department of Defense at Kadena AFB in Okinawa, Japan. Margaret took full advantage of the opportunity to travel extensively, exploring Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Pakistan, and the Philippines, often meeting up with a favorite aunt, Alice Mary Young, on her travel adventures.

Margaret then returned to Los Angeles, California, where she worked for the Los Angeles County Department of Education as a reference librarian, supporting teachers and administrators. Several years later she again expanded her career trajectory by attending night school at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, obtaining her Juris Doctor in 1982. She successfully passed the California bar exam and then the Washington, D.C. bar exam, starting as Assistant Counsel at the U.S. Department of Treasury and rising through the ranks until ultimately being named the first Chief Counsel of the Bureau of Fiscal Service—the new bureau which resulted after the merger of the Public Debt and Financial Management Service. She retired in 2015, with plans to garden, travel, and spend time with family.

Twenty years after their initial meeting at the front door entrance of a library convention, Margaret married her husband Clayton in 1994 at Saint John’s Church in Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C. Margaret was attracted to Clayton’s optimistic spirit and expert sushi making skills. This was the start of a beautiful collaboration, which included a major house renovation in North Arlington, Virginia, where they loved to entertain friends and family. They also became actively engaged in the years-long effort that ultimately succeeded in preserving the integrity of the site of the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial (“Iwo Jima Memorial”), reflecting the couple’s deep desire to promote what was in the interest of the common good. Margaret also played a

prominent role on the board of the Rosslyn Heights East (RHE) Condominium Association, variously serving as member, president, and liaison to the board’s law firm.

Margaret is survived and lovingly remembered by her husband, Clayton Depue, stepdaughter Aimee Depue (Karl Darby), sister Jennie Rightmyer (Charles), brother Edward Marquette (Gladys Zarazua), nephew Justin Rightmyer (Julie Goepferd), niece Molly Gee (Brian), and great nieces Matilda and Mary Elise Gee.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) https://themmrf.org/. The family also invites readers to share this obituary with anyone who may wish to remember Margaret.