Margaret Mae “Marg” Taylor Gustafson passed peacefully in her sleep at the age of 86 at her Houston, Texas, apartment the morning of May 23, 2020.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Francis “Gus” Gustafson. She is survived by their two children – Scott Gustafson and his wife Fidelia of Houston, Texas, and Melanie Gustafson-Ropski and her husband Steven Ropski, PhD, of Erie, Pennsylvania, as well as four grandchildren – Jessica and Major Clifford Pullig, U.S. Army, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Eryk and Sara Gustafson of Spring, Texas; Meaghan Ropski, DVM, and Steven Conroe of Beltsville, Maryland; Nathaniel Ropski of Erie, Pennsylvania, and four great-grandchildren Samuel, Madison, and Annaliese Pullig and Amelia Gustafson.
Born January 9, 1934, in Woodburn, Oregon, Marg was the eldest daughter of Winifred Mae and Sam Taylor. Like many of her generation, she was named after Princess Margaret. Due to the Depression, her family moved from Woodburn to Toppenish, Washington, and then arrived in Butte, Montana, in 1939.
Smart as a whip, she graduated a year early from Butte High School and entered the workforce proficient in typing and shorthand. In 1952 she met the love of her life at a roller rink above what would become the Terminal Meat Market in uptown Butte. Commenting to her girlfriends that she did not “like that showoff skater,” she skated with Gus when he first asked. The young Navy veteran from Anaconda, Montana, courted Marg for a few months, and they married on his birthday in March 1953 (so he wouldn’t forget the date).
As a young housewife, she planned weekly meals on a very tight budget and also authored a cookbook. In 1967 she was named Mrs. Butte and competed in the Mrs. Montana pageant, a step away from Mrs. America. She bowled competitively in numerous leagues both locally and statewide and also travelled to national tournaments. She loved playing the piano. One of her first purchases was a black Kimball Spinet. Many a night Melanie and Scott would fall asleep as she would play “Moon River”, the “Elephant Walk”, and many others. Her grandson Eryk has it in his home today.
Marg again entered the workforce once her children were in school. Starting in the steno pool at the then Montana Power Company, her expertise had not been lost. She quickly moved up the ranks to executive assistant to the President and worked with him for many years. She later transferred to their Human Resources group where she led sexual harassment workshops and helped affected employees. She was an active member of KNOW, the Knowledge Network of Women.
Marg read book after book, usually late at night into the early morning hours. Her favorites were murder mysteries particularly by David Baldacci and James Patterson.
Retirement led Marg and Gus to Sun Lakes, Arizona, in 1994. For several years they would summer on Georgetown Lake in Montana and winter in the ‘big house’ down south. Marg played golf occasionally, participated in Silver Sneakers, and played a mean round of Mahjong at the club.
Marg frequented the casinos in retirement where she was fortunate to beat the house many a night. Her winnings financed many of their trips abroad and to see family and friends. Their travels to Canada, Las Vegas, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Panama, China, Russia, England, Ireland, Italy, and Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands were checked off their bucket lists.
The family extends their gratitude to the compassionate caregivers of You’re First and Silverado Hospice and to the staff of Copperfield Estates for making Miss Margaret’s last four years a pleasant experience.
Funeral arrangements are with Brookside Funeral Home – Cypress Creek of Houston, Texas. Marg will be laid to rest with Gus in Houston, Texas, with a joint memorial service at a future date. In lieu of flowers or visitation, Marg asks that a random act of kindness be done in her honor and that you post it on https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/houston-tx/margaret-gustafson-9195256
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