Margaret Marie Simmons

Margaret (Margi) Simmons passed away on September 1st 2025 at 1:00 AM, shortly after her August 31st birthday. She was 74 years old. She suffered from progressive supranuclear palsy, a difficult and relatively uncommon Parkinson’s-like disease.

Margi was born in Cape May, NJ on August 31st 1951, to the late Charles and Margaret Mary Simmons. She had two brothers, Chris Simmons of Sacramento and the late Chuck Simmons. Margi grew up in New Jersey, mostly in the Camden area. She and her family moved to Lodi, CA when she was twelve. They later moved to Fremont, CA when Margi was seventeen where she finished high school. She then moved to Stockton, and later Twain Hart, CA. She worked in the area and went to community college there for several years. Eventually she moved to Sacramento and, while working, graduated from Sacramento State at 27 with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work.

One of Margi's many jobs was working as a teller at Home Savings on Freeport Blvd in Sacramento. That eventually led her into a career as a real estate appraiser, which she pursued for 12 or so years. She advanced in the profession such that in later years she only appraised commercial properties – everything from truck washes to trailer parks. She made a number of very close friends during that time.

Margi and her husband Taylor Miller met by chance at Raleys supermarket in 1978, although Taylor believes it was meant to be. They immediately bonded and stayed together after their first date. They eventually married in Florence, Italy in 1988. Margi and Taylor were thrilled to welcome their son Maxwell (Max) in 1993. Max became their principal focus for the rest of their lives. Margi volunteered frequently at Max’s preschool and at Leonardo da Vinci grade school.

After Margi met Taylor, she also spent a lot of fun times with Taylor’s two daughters Virginia (Ginny) and Marjorie (Margie) and later their eventual husbands, Tom Pedreira and Mike Levy. She was very close to them and was Grandma Margi to their children Rachel, Stephanie, and Anthony Pedreira, and Ali and Mikey Levy. Margi also had many good and loving friends from her time in Lodi, Fremont, and Sacramento. Many became lifelong friends during Max’s early years in preschool and grade school.

Margi welcomed many of Max's friends into their house during their grade school and high school years. The house served as a play area and later as a skateboard park and garage club. She provided much love and food to Max and his friends. Several of Max’s friends describe her as their second mom. She absolutely adored Max and was a wonderful mother.

Margi's lifelong interests were varied. She liked cooking and gardening in particular, as well as sewing, skiing and birding. She enjoyed travel too but loved being a nester best. Nevertheless, she indulged Taylor’s passion for travel without complaint. Margi was an excellent cook and spoiled Taylor and Max with home cooked meals every night. She often started her day searching out recipes and preparing for another wonderful dinner.

Margi had a special sparkle and fizz and was friendly to everyone she met. She had gumption and drive and was very intelligent. Margi will be missed by many, many people. She was a genuine, warm, passionate person with a love for life and a kindness that radiated outwards and touched anyone she knew.

Margi is survived by her husband, Taylor O. Miller; Son, Maxwell T. Miller; Taylor’s daughters, Virginia Pedreira and Marjorie Levy; her brother, Chris B. Simmons; cousins Debbie Bracewell, Sam Simmons, and Jim Simmons; niece Tiffany Simmons and nephew Jason Simmons and their families, and other members of the family.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to CurePSP, an organization dedicated to research for a cure and to supporting those with the disease and their families. https://www.psp.org