Margaret "Peggy" Joanne Jeans

Margaret "Peggy" Joanne Jeans (nee Johnston) was born on January 1, 1940 in Portland, Oregon to parents David Albin Johnston and Mabel Irene Johnston (nee Lundquist). She joined older sisters Phyllis and Dorothy, was followed by sister Susan (Sasha) two years later and grew up on Dunckley Street in Northeast Portland where she graduated from Grant High school in 1957. She enrolled in Lewis and Clark College where she met her husband, David Edgar Jeans. They both graduated with teaching degrees from L&C in 1961 and married on August 27 of that same year at Westminster Presbyterian Church of Portland.

Peggy began her long teaching career as a substitute teacher before being hired as a permanent teacher at Collins View Elementary on Terwilliger Blvd in 1965. To quote a review from the principal at the time, “Mrs. Jeans came to Collins View in November of 1965 as a temporary teacher of a room that was rapidly getting out of hand. Mrs. Jeans corrected this situation and in about three days had everything running smoothly.” She taught first and second grade at Collins View until 1968 when she took 10 years away from teaching to raise her children, Sarah and Michael, on the family farm near Sherwood.

Summers were spent traveling and camping in the beautiful state of Oregon, hay harvest and canning the fruits and vegetables from the garden. Even though Peggy was away from a school classroom, she continued to stay active with teaching children during that time with her involvement in Sunday School at Rise Church (nee Calvin Presbyterian Church) of Tigard and the Campfire Girls program.

Peggy was also active in a bowling league during this time. She returned to the classroom at J. Clyde Hopkins Elementary in Sherwood in 1978 where she taught second grade. When Sherwood’s Archer Glen Elementary opened in 1995, she taught second grade there until her retirement in 1998.

Peggy remained involved in education, starting a chapter of the Oasis Intergenerational Reading Tutor Program at Archer Glen to improve the reading skills of young children. She was also active in Delta Kappa Gamma, a national society for educators and the local Beta Beta Chapter.

During retirement, she enjoyed traveling with her husband, which included international trips to Africa, China, Russia and Europe. Line dancing and card games with friends filled her evenings.

Peggy was well known for her beautiful garden of flowers, each one meticulously labeled with its name. Her many relatives and friends also fondly remember her Cowboy Cookies which were always set out on the kitchen counter to enjoy.

Peggy is survived by her spouse, David, and children Sarah Agsten (Mark) of Roseburg and Mike Jeans of Sherwood. Her grandchildren are Hannah (Jeans) Fetcher, Maddie Jeans, Hunter Agsten and Audrey Jeans.

A Memorial Service is planned for 2pm on October 4, 2025 at Rise Church in Tigard, OR. Cards may be sent to c/o Finley-Sunset Hills 6801 SW Sunset Hwy Portland, OR 97225.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Beta Beta Education Foundation at 2408 SW Chelmsford Ave Portland, OR 97201.