Margaret Clydene (Peggy) Fowler passed away June 24, 2025 in Colleyville, Texas. She was 94 years old. Peggy was born November 22, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois to Clyde M. Saxton and Miranda Lea Farnan Saxton.
Peggy’s life in her younger years was full of changes. Her mother raised her and her brother Bill by herself and so they moved often during the depression years to find work or to go back and live with family in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Peggy had numerous stories of bus rides to move to a city, of new schools to go to, and of her mom packing a trunk and arriving in a new city trying to find a place to live. In spite of the many moves, challenges and uncertainties, Peggy spoke all her life of her appreciation for her mother’s care, persistence and indomitable spirit as she cared and provided for Bill and Peggy.
During her high school years, the family moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan. While at Ann Arbor High School, Peggy met Gene Fowler, a classmate who had moved to Ann Arbor from Corning, Arkansas. A romance bloomed while they were in high school and working at a soda fountain, and they were married a year after graduation on September 3,1949.
Peg and Gene lived a great life together. Gene had a successful career as a banker in Ann Arbor and Peg was his devoted wife, helper and encourager. Peggy was a devoted and tireless mother and wife. She worked for many years as a program director for Jack and Jill Day Care and yet she always had time and energy to take care of her three sons, Bill, Bob and John.
Peg and Gene were surrounded by countless friends. They were involved in community activities, played golf, actively supported the boys in youth sports, and were well-known in Ann Arbor. Peggy also was the first woman chosen to serve as a Board Member for Michigan Christian Youth Camp.
However, Peg and Gene’s deepest and most lasting connections came from their two church families, first at the Ann Arbor Church of Christ and then at the Sun Valley Church of Christ in Mesa. Over nearly 70 years, Peggy faithfully served the church and counted her service as her greatest source of joy. Even in the last years of her life it was not uncommon for someone from years ago to reach out to her and tell her how much she had helped them or encouraged them in some way.
Peggy entered a new season of her life after Gene died in 2008. She stayed in Mesa and took care of herself for 17 years. Peggy made new connections and found a way to exercise her always competitive spirit by playing cards with neighbors at the Sunland Springs community and by hosting friends in her home. She remained active at Sun Valley Church and frequently would take people to lunch or have them to her home for dinner.
Peggy is survived by her three sons, Bill and Carol Fowler of Abilene, Texas; Bob and Karin Fowler of Westlake Village, California, John and Bev Fowler of Keller, Texas; grandchildren, Johnny Fowler and his wife Sherry, Jeff Fowler and his wife Carrie, Lauren Fowler, Lindy Fowler, Courtney Fowler and Cassidy Fowler; Great grandchildren- Cameron Fowler, Emma Fowler, Easton Fowler and Ella Fowler.
Peggy will be remembered for her zest for living, for her competitive, independent spirit, for her love for Gene, for her love for her family and for her commitment to God. We will miss her and are thankful for her life and for the ways she loved us and shaped us.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Michigan Christian Youth Camp, 820 North Lake George Rd., Attica, MI 48412 or mcyc.org
Visitation with the family will take place on Tuesday, July 8, from 5:00-7:00PM at the Sun Valley Church of Christ, 1015 N. Recker Rd., Gilbert, AZ.
The Funeral Service will be on Wednesday, July 9 at 11:00AM, also at the Sun Valley Church of Christ.
Ramona and I had to move from Michigan to Mesa, where we really got to know Gene and Peggy. For 23 years, we were their neighbors and attended church with them We are so glad that our paths crossed both in Michigan and in Arizona . And as Peggy and I often joked,” It is what it is”. .
Peggy Fowler was my aunt on my father’s side. All while I was growing up in Michigan, our families spent most holidays together. My cousins, my siblings and I would play all sorts of games while the adults prepared the incredible meals we shared. Aunt Peggy would shue, us sometimes, unruley kids from the kitchen as she, my mom and other aunts were busy preparing the food. Uncle Gene would always lead us in prayer before sitting to share the bounty. Those were some of my favorite memories growing up.
The past 10 years or so, we reconnected through annual visits to Mesa. I thank the Good Lord for making those memorable visits possible. Aunt Peggy will always be in my heart. I loved her dearly and the world will be a little less beautiful without her.
Ramona and I had to move from Michigan to Mesa, where we really got to know Gene and Peggy. For 23 years, we were their neighbors and attended church with them We are so glad that our paths crossed both in Michigan and in Arizona . And as Peggy and I often joked,” It is what it is”. .
Peggy Fowler was my aunt on my father’s side. All while I was growing up in Michigan, our families spent most holidays together. My cousins, my siblings and I would play all sorts of games while the adults prepared the incredible meals we shared. Aunt Peggy would shue, us sometimes, unruley kids from the kitchen as she, my mom and other aunts were busy preparing the food. Uncle Gene would always lead us in prayer before sitting to share the bounty. Those were some of my favorite memories growing up.
The past 10 years or so, we reconnected through annual visits to Mesa. I thank the Good Lord for making those memorable visits possible. Aunt Peggy will always be in my heart. I loved her dearly and the world will be a little less beautiful without her.