Margaret Theresa Leavitt

Margaret "Peg" T. Leavitt was born on December 20, 1941 in Greenfield, MA to Leon and Theresa Bagdon. She grew up on a farm in Western Massachusetts where she helped raise and harvest crops ranging from cucumbers to potatoes to asparagus. She excelled in school and was a terrific athlete and blazed a trail for future generations of female athletes. She played a wide range of sports throughout her life, including semi-professional basketball and softball (even batting once against the famous pitcher, Joan Joyce, who later struck out Ted Williams). She was also on the national field hockey team in the 60's. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst with a degree in physical education and went on to teach physical education and coach women's basketball, soccer,track & field and cheerleading for over twenty years at South Hadley High School (South Hadley, MA) as well as Hoosac Valley High School (Adams, MA). She mentored and coached scores of young women, many of whom went on to become college athletes and coaches themselves. In the early 80's, her family moved to the south side of Indianapolis, Indiana and she began her new career as the ASVAB Test Coordinator at the Indianapolis Military Entrance Processing (MEPS) center - continuing her life's work of educating and guiding students. She retired from MEPS in 2007 after twenty years of distinguished service.

Throughout her life, she remained an avid sports fan and after moving to Indianapolis, became a fan of Indy cars and NASCAR as well. She also loved to travel and was able to accomplish one of her dreams of visiting Alaska with her husband during retirement. She also loved to go to casinos to play slots, collect Department 56 houses and plush animals (especially Boyds Bears) and had a special place in her heart for all animals - especially her pet dogs and cats throughout the years. She was a loving, kind woman who was physically tough and mentally strong and she will be greatly missed.

Predeceased by her parents, she is survived by her husband of 50 years, Thomas O. Leavitt and her daughter, Laura L. Leavitt and her partner, Tony Walesby, as well as two sisters, Janet Ogrodnik (Robert) and Katie Matuszko (Ronald) and one brother, Robert Bagdon (Julie). She is also survived by two nieces, Megan Cichy and Tracey Matuszko, two nephews Brian Matuszko (Alissa) and Jason Ogrodnik (Emma) and two grand-nieces, Mikayla and Victoria.

A Memorial Gathering will be held at Little and Sons Stop Eleven Chapel on Sunday, January 29, 2017 from 12pm-2pm. Memorial Service immediately following at 2pm.

Flowers may be sent to the Little and Sons funeral home and donations can be made in her name to PatriotPaws (www.patriotpaws.org) or the American Heart Association.

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Arrangements under the direction of Little & Sons Funeral Home, Indianapolis, IN.