Margaret McIlroy

The daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Billion, Peggy was born and spent her early years in Sioux Falls South Dakota. She attended Cathedral Grade School where, as she recounted in her later years, she caused a good bit of mischief and had several “significant” run-ins with the nuns who taught there. She attended Washington High School in Sioux Falls and was surrounded by her loving parents, her grandfather whom she idolized, and two older siblings, Mercedes and Tom, who she described as always being wonderful to her. She had many friends and joined all the social clubs that she could for girls. Recalling these years, she said, “You can understand I was spoiled and special to my family.”

Peggy attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she studied journalism and worked on the school newspaper. She was particularly impressed that Marquette had 12 boys attending for every girl! As a sophomore, she met Allen O’Donnell, then a senior in law school. They were married on December 28, 1940. The early years of their marriage, during World War II, were spent in the northeastern part of the United States, where Allen was Special Agent in charge of four FBI offices. Soon, they had four baby girls.

Peggy was an avid bridge player throughout most of her life. She enjoyed traveling, following current events and politics, and reading any book with a happy ending. After leaving the FBI, in the late 1940’s, Allen worked for Employers Insurance of Wausau in Wausau, Wisconsin, and then was transferred to Dallas, Texas, where Allen managed the Southwest Claims and Legal Division. Peggy volunteered at her children’s schools, church, and within her community. She will be remembered for the great love she had for her family and friends, her joy of life, and sense of humor which could be seen in her extensive miniature ceramic and glass pig collection accumulated over more than 50 years.

After Allen’s death in 1976, she married Winfield “Mac” McIlroy, a native Texan, originally from Tolar, Texas, and a Texan through and through, being an Aggie, and also having attended the University of Texas. Both retired, they initially lived in East Texas and eventually moved to Sun City, Arizona, where they enjoyed many happy years together until Mac’s death in 2005. He was 93.

After Mac’s death, Peggy moved to Bellingham, Washington near her daughter, Anne, but always longed to return to Dallas, which she did in 2012.

Peggy is survived by her four daughters, Nancy Lee O`Donnell and Mary Pat Jackson, both of Dallas, TX; Jane Allen Stuetzel (Otto) of Koingsbrunn, Germany; and Anne Lindsay Munger (George), of Bellingham, WA. She is also survived by six grandchildren, six great grandchildren, and their families. In addition, she is survived by Mac’s daughter, Winnie Taylor, of Longview, Texas, Mac’s grandchildren and their families.

A memorial mass will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, November 22, 2014, at the Chapel at Calvary Hill Funeral Home, 3235 Lombardy Ln, Dallas, TX 75220.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the benefit of the Diederich College of Communication, at Marquette University, University Advancement, P.O. Box 1881, Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881.