Peggy Harper Passed Away in May

Peggy Harper's Douglas MacArthur High School 1965 Senior Class photograph in the Cadet.

We learned on July 2, 2018, that Peggy Harper had passed away earlier this spring. She had married to become Peggy Sipes, and moved to Springfield and Sarasota, Florida. Peggy was fairly active on Facebook, so when she wasn't visible any longer, Penny Pennington Taylor noticed it. And Penny and Millie alerted me to Peggy's possible passing.

A photo of Peggy, a few years ago, sent along by Charlene Mize Tuttle.

Peggy posted a pic of her sister Mary Anne, who passed away some time ago.

Peggy lost her son Brian, 18, to a tragic hiking accident when he was on vacation in California, May 23, 1984.

I found this obituary:

Rita Margaret "Peggy" Sipes 1947 - 2018
Sarasota, FL—Rita Margaret "Peggy" Sipes, 71, of Sarasota, FL passed away on May 14 [2018] at Doctor's Hospital in Sarasota. She was surrounded by her family.
Peggy was born February 24, 1947, first child for Rita & JD Harper of Decatur [Illinois]. She attended St. James & St. Teresa schools.
She married Tony Sipes & moved with her family to Springfield [Illinois} where she enjoyed a very successful career in Real Estate. Later she settled in Sarasota [Florida] where she continued to work in the banking side of real estate.
Peggy was the consummate hostess & loved to entertain.
She was a great cook. Her other interests included reading & spending time with her family. Peggy was an organ donor.
Peggy is survived by her husband, Michael Belsham of Sarasota; sons Terry Sullivan (Mary Kay) of Tuscon, AZ; Jason Sipes (Martha Demetrowitz) of Venice, FL,; sisters Susan Flynn (TR) of Decatur, IL; Jo Gildersleeve (David) of League City, TX.; granddaughter Emilee Allen of Taylorville, IL; grandson Conor Sullivan of Tucson; many nieces, nephews, great nieces & great nephews, and loving cousins all across the country.
Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, son Brian Sipes, brothers David & Christopher Harper, sisters Gloria Lightcap & Mary Anne Donnelly.
Burial services will be held at Calvary Cemetery in Springfield, IL on May 29 at 11 a.m.
Published in Print in The State Journal-Register from May 26 to May 27, 2018

It is wonderful to see she lived a full and happy life. Our condolences from the Class of 1965 to Peggy's loved ones and family.

Susan McKenzie Dies, 9/11/16

Sad to report that we have lost another classmate. Susan Grace McKenzie passed away on September 11, 2016. Susan's death date (9/11) is to be noted as historically coincidental (November 22 - JFK) as much as her birthdate is.

At MacArthur High School, Susan was a Class Council Alternate 1, Homecoming Publicity 3, Homecoming Decorations 4, Spanish Club 2, and a Girls' Chorus member.

The Springfield State Journal-Register published her obituary on September 13, 2016.

Susan Grace Dove 1947 - 2016

RIVERTON, IL - Susan Grace Dove, 68, of Riverton, died at 10:40 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, at Vibra Hospital in Springfield.
She was born Nov. 22, 1947, in Decatur, to Charles E. and Alice J. French McKenzie. She married William "Bill" Dove of Riverton on Oct. 4, 1969, in Springfield, Ill., and he survives.
Also surviving are her daughters, Laura Kennedy, her husband, Rusty, and children, Grace and Anna Kennedy of Rochester, and Gwen Clayton, her husband, Jarrod, and children, William, Katherine, and Henry Clayton, of Stokesdale, N.C.; and brothers, Scott McKenzie, and his children, Jason, Todd and Jillian of Columbus, Ohio, and Daniel McKenzie, and his son, Daniel, of Springfield.
She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Sandy McKenzie.
Susan attended MacArthur High School in Decatur, Ray-Vogue College of Design in Chicago, and University of Illinois–Springfield. She was Executive Director of the Sangamon County Department of Community Resources for 17 years.
She was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church of Springfield, Girl Scouts of Central Illinois, Springfield Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, U.S. Daughters of 1812, Daughters of Union Veterans, and Daughters of Colonial Wars.
Visitation: 4-7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, at Staab Funeral Home–Springfield. There will be a second visitation from 9–9:30 a.m., Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, at Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Funeral Service: 9:30 a.m. on Friday at Westminster Presbyterian Church with The Rev. Dr. Blythe Denham Kieffer officiating.
Burial will follow at Camp Butler National Cemetery.
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Thanks to Stephen Haury and Delinda Chapman for passing along the sad news.

Delinda shares that Susan "was just as sweet and caring as she was when we knew her in the '60s."