Margaret May Knowling

Margaret May (Marsh) Knowling, 96, passed away peacefully on December 28, 2024, at home in Bothell, WA. Margaret was born in Groesbeck, TX and raised in Iowa City, IA. She attended Iowa City High School and the University of Iowa where she was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.

She married John William Knowling in 1948. They lived in Yakima, WA briefly and then moved to Seattle, WA. In 1969, she and John built a home on Norway Hill in Bothell, WA. They later moved to south Snohomish County.

Margaret was a homemaker and devoted mother. Together, she and John raised four children. Margaret enjoyed playing cards, including bridge, and was an avid reader. She participated in her children’s activities including PTA, Campfire and 4-H. A devout Christian, she was a member of the Lighthouse Foursquare Church in Kenmore, WA, and led a bible study in her home for many years. She volunteered for Seattle Children’s, played the autoharp and sang for residents of local nursing homes, and was involved in Women’s Aglow and Bible Study Fellowship. Margaret played the piano, composed and performed music, and enjoyed traveling. She was kind and caring with a wonderful sense of humor and loved by her countless friends and family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John, parents Margaret Jayne (Cochrum) Marsh and Edward Gordon Marsh of Iowa City, IA, brother Philip Gordon Marsh of San Diego, CA, sister Carolyn Jayne Keleher of Mountain Home, TX, and several sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews.

She is survived by her son Timothy John Knowling (Shahri) of Seattle, WA, daughters Su Arnot (Jeff) of Snohomish, WA, Kerri Lynn Fuller (George) of Burlington, WA, and Lisa Marie Walker (Ronnie) of Bothell, WA, eleven grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, brother Alan Edward Marsh of Kirkland, WA, sister-in-law Vicki Marsh of San Diego, CA and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial in celebration of Margaret’s life will be held for friends and family at the Lighthouse Foursquare Church in Kenmore, WA on February 2, 2025 at noon with a potluck to follow.