Peggy Ann Smith

Margaret (Peggy) Ann Rice Saville-Smith, 84 passed away January 6, 2021. She was born in July 8, 1936 to Edward Rice and Myrtle Hogan Rice in Greenleaf, Kansas. Peggy moved with her family to Phoenix when she was a senior in high school. She then married George Saville and ultimately had four children. Peggy worked alongside her brother in the valley banking industry for many years. Her life was one deeply rooted in her Catholic faith. She was actively involved at Christ the King Church in Mesa and Seton Catholic Preparatory in Chandler, when her sons also attended. She was later associated with various Catholic parishes and schools that her children and grandchildren attended after she moved to the Phoenix area in the late 1980’s. Peggy was always a dedicated member of her church and community spending countless hours, volunteering her time to help others. She took great pride in being a loan officer and branch manager for First Federal Savings and Loan and Merabank. She was also involved in many facets of local politics to better her community. After her children were raised and her retirement, she remarried Mr. Murrell Smith enjoying much of her time between Phoenix, Mesa and her home state of Kansas where she loved spending time with her sister and extended family. Time spent with family brought her the most enjoyment. Attending graduations, soccer games, recitals and family gatherings. She was the matriarch of our family and fondly known as G-mo, a name bestowed by her granddaughter who was just learning to speak. Spending time with her kids and grandkids in Cornville, AZ, for The Saville family reunions were a highlight for her. For nearly two decades, we all looked forward every year to great laughs and her homemade ice cream and cinnamon rolls. She is preceded in death by her siblings Gene Rice, Darlene Gauby, Mary Waterman, Edna Rice, husbands George Saville, Murrell Smith, and her son Stephen George Saville. She is survived by her sister-in-law Lola Rice, daughter in-law Jill Saville, her three children, Blair Saville (Holly), Jeffrey Saville (Nonette) and Brigid Dean (PJ) and her seven grandchildren, Bailey (Casin), Sandon, Brendan, Kendall, Sydney, Hayden and Embrey. The family would like to thank the staff at Beatitudes Campus for the extraordinary kindness, care and compassion that was given by them to our beloved G-Mo. A memorial ceremony will be held in Phoenix and her home state of Kansas at a date to be announced at a later date. An angel on earth and now, in heaven. She will be deeply missed and her memory will remain in our hearts forever.