Margaret Ann Eickemeyer, 86

Margaret Ann Eickemeyer, 86, passed away peacefully Friday, March 20, 2009, at 5 p.m. in the comfort care unit at Sacred Heart Hospital, Spokane, Wash.

Margaret was born in Silverton, Ore., the daughter of Earnest Westendorf and Frieda Schuler.

She grew up on multi-use farm in Mt. Angel Ore., which included the environmentally friendly horses named “Peach” and “Babe.”

She married Walter Eickemeyer on Oct. 19, 1940, residing in the Los Angeles, Calif., area during the war years, returning to the Mt. Angel area, where they purchased a multi-tasking farm.

Seeking sunshine and a more advantageous economic potential they purchased a 20-acre chicken ranch in Ramona, Calif., where they surfed the crest and troughs that a 40,000-population chicken ranch conducts.

They retired from toil in 1978 by moving to “Easy Living Acres,” in the “Morton Community” addressed Sagle, Idaho.

There Margaret maintained her interest in fishing, quilting, gardening, cultivating begonias and a love/hate relationship maintaining a very large lawn.

She retired from retiring by moving into a retirement home in Spokane, Wash., in 1998, where she enjoyed quilting, singing and ice cream outings as well as visits from her many friends and immediate family.

Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Walter; and a son, Larry.

She is survived by her son, Allen; and grandson, Eric; residing in Spokane; and granddaughter, Larissa Rodriguez; and great-grandson, Evan; residing in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Funeral services will be held at Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1900 West Pine St., Sandpoint, on Tuesday March 31, at 1 p.m., of which Margaret is a charter member. The service will be officiated by Pastor Steve Nickodemus, son of Erwin and Lillian Nickodemus, a next door neighbor to Margaret in Mt. Angel, Oregon.

A flute solo “Bach Cantata 156” will be played by granddaughter Larissa Eickemeyer Rodriguez.