Margaret Jean Gilleran

Margaret (Peggy) Jean McReynolds Gilleran was born in Chicago, Illinois on April 8,1936, the second child of seven. While in elementary school, her innate intelligence led her to skip several grades before she went on to win the State of Illinois Spelling Bee and a trip to Washington DC. Shortly after the family moved to Monrovia, California, in the early 50’s, the family was devastated when Peggy’s younger sister was stricken with polio, followed immediately by her young father who was also stricken. Although the young sister recovered, their father remained paralyzed, and this changed the trajectory of all their lives.

As a young woman, Peg just seemed to be made for the business world, rapidly gaining the trust of those she worked with and assuming ever greater responsibilities. While working at Consolidated ElectroDynamics she caught the eye of a young, handsome auditor named James Gilleran. They were married on July 11, 1959, in the middle of a heat wave in Monrovia, California. In her early career, she was personal secretary to world-renowned comedian and concert violinist, Jack Benny, when he was at the height of his career. Managing a major celebrity’s hectic schedule during those vibrant years in Hollywood was a demanding job. But Peg was up to the challenge in every way.

As Jim moved up the corporate ladder, Peggy was always the force behind him. Jim was often to say he would never have climbed so high had Peg not been there, at every step, to inspire and challenge him. Peg had a fine mind and a continuing thirst for education. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from San Francisco State, and later obtained her Juris Doctorate from Golden Gate University.

In 1971, Peggy and Jim adopted their first daughter, Ami, and three years later adopted Laura. Peggy was very involved as a community leader in Hillsborough, California near San Francisco. She was an active, passionate philanthropist working for the NAMI (National Alliance for Mental illness), chairperson for Hillsborough Concours d’ Elegance, and her lifelong love of books lead her to be on the board of Great Books Council of the San Francisco Bay area. For Jim’s career, the family moved into San Francisco where Peggy then became an active advocate for young people in the San Francisco area with mental health issues. She was a consummate mother figure and mentor to many of her daughters’ friends.

In 2001, her husband received an appointment from the George W. Bush administration and in September, the family arrived in Washington, DC. Peggy soon learned to maneuver the intricacies of life and politics in DC, and with characteristic bravado, she and Jim stared down the frightening specter of Anthrax during those horrific weeks following the September 11th terrorist attacks.

In 2006, when their elder daughter was expecting a child, they made the decision to move to Raleigh, NC, where they delighted in being a part of their granddaughter Ashley’s life.

During their marriage, Peggy joyfully took on the challenge of remodeling and refurbishing the many different homes in which they lived, being especially fond of working with several historical homes. Throughout their lives, Peggy and Jim realized that their relationship with the Lord Jesus was of central importance and they loved studying the Bible together.

Her youngest brother, Tom, has said he was always impressed with Peggy’s grace and confidence, saying her sense of style was impeccable. Brother Jim says, “when Dad got ill, Peggy and older sister Faith stepped into the gap and helped support the family. This is something we all have recognized and appreciated even more as we got older.” When sister Kathie was a small child in Chicago, she said she never felt safer than when her big sister Peggy was holding her hand. Her sister Joy remembers that Peg, who is two years her senior, shared together wonderful adventures in their youth, taking long bike rides around Wrigley Field. She used to watch enviously as Peg cartwheeled across the large living room! Her older sister Faith says, “all the sibs have always been so proud of our darling sister Peggy. She is loved beyond measure”. Her youngest sister, Jean, has said that Peggy’s advice to her was, “If you are heading in a direction that you know is a wrong one, be brave enough to acknowledge it and turn around.”

“How thankful we are that the Lord chose to place us, Ami and Laura, with our Momma and Daddy. We will carry their legacy of love with us in our hearts for the rest of our lives.”

She is survived by her daughter, Ami de Clippelaar and her husband, Robert de Clippelaar; her granddaughter, Ashley, and daughter Laura Merle and spouse Mel Merle.

A funeral service for Margaret will be held Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 1:30 PM at Mitchell Funeral Home in Raleigh, North Carolina. Burial will immediately follow the service at Raleigh Memorial Park.

The Gilleran family welcomes everyone to a reception after the burial at Mitchell Funeral Home to celebrate Peggy's life.

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