Margarita Gracia Gilbert

Born September 19, 1949, in Calexico, CA she was the first born of thirteen children to Francisco and Antonia Gracia. Margarita graduated from Calexico High School then later attended San Diego State University on a scholarship along with her sister Teresa. It was at SDSU that she met her future husband, Laird in a Mexican American studies class. They married on May 5th, 1973, and later would have two children Angelina and Edmund.

Margarita worked for the San Diego County as an eligibility worker, where she was seen as a true leader often tasked with training new employees. She later resigned from this position to become a full-time stay at home mom and homemaker for her family.

As a child, Margarita had imagined she would be a teacher when she grew up. She later had the opportunity to volunteer as a teacher’s assistant in her granddaughter’s class in elementary school. She found so much joy in that role creating projects, lesson plans for the teachers, and working one on one with children with their classwork. She became so beloved at the school, that she requested by several teachers for her help and became famously known as “Nana Margarita”. She was later honored with an award for her years of service and contribution to the school and students.

Through the many roles of loving and caretaking she took on during her life, her favorite of all was being a grandma. She treasured her time with her granddaughters, she loved to spoil them with love, meals, shopping outings and so much more.

Margarita enjoyed many hobbies throughout her life, from sewing elaborate costumes for kids, reading tarot cards, to growing her herb garden, and watching her Novelas on her iPad. However, her favorite pastime of all was having “sister time” at Viejas Casino. They would often spend hours gaming and enjoying a meal together and just simply laugh and catch up together. Margarita is survived by ten of her twelve siblings: Frances, Leonor Estela, Hector Francisco, Marco Antonio, Sergio Alonso, Santo Eduardo, Angelina Angulo, David Angulo, Adolfo Gustavo and Maria del Carmen. As well as her husband Laird Keith Gilbert, her children Angelina Margarita Guthrie, her beloved son Edmund Keith Gilbert, and her grandchildren Alyssa Michelle Hancock and Arianna Marie Hancock. She joins her sister Teresa de Jesus and Vincente Benito with our Lord in heaven.

Margarita devoted her life to her family, creating a warm welcoming home that often served as a gathering place during the holidays. She will always be remembered for her selfless giving nature, her fierce fighting spirit, her sense of humor, her words of wisdom, and the limitless love she gave, all qualities she kept until her last breath. Her memory will live on in the hearts of those who loved her.