Margaret Marion “Maggie” Craig Angely Trautmann, 77, died October 3, 2014 in San Diego, California after a valiant 22 year battle with Alzheimer’s. Her strong will to live, quiet yet unwavering faith in God and the love, support and prayers of family, friends and caregivers carried her through living with this cruel and devastating disease with dignity.

Born in 1937 in Glasgow, Scotland to Alexander and Marion, the eldest of three beautiful sisters and two handsome brothers, Maggie’s love for her clan rivaled most storybook tales. Raised during WWII, the emotional and economic hardships brought on by wartime did not break them, but brought their family closer together and strengthened fast their Scottish pride. In 1955, with big, hopeful eyes and bigger dreams, she left her homeland for Canada, all the while holding tight to thoughts of her family. There she met a German immigrant, Adolph, who stole her heart the moment she saw him. The young couple immigrated to the United States, married and settled in Boulder, Colorado. With the majestic Rocky Mountains as their backdrop, Maggie and Ad worked tirelessly over the next 15 years building a successful millworking business and started a family. As a “pink lady” volunteer at Boulder Community Hospital, she loved making patients smile, laugh and feel truly cared about.

After the births of their daughters, Susan and Elke Colleen, the family remained in Boulder until 1975. Maggie and the girls traveled to Scotland, and for a year Maggie immersed her daughters in the love of her family, Scottish heritage and the local culture. Upon returning to the United States, Maggie and the girls moved to Mercer Island, Washington in 1977. Maggie would call this beautiful island home for the next 24 years. While in the Pacific Northwest, Maggie’s innate skills with numbers, strong work ethic and affinity for organization advanced her professionally from bookkeeper to Comptroller of several large corporations. She also loved volunteering at the Mercer Island Thrift Store, hoping to make a difference to those in need, even if just by a smile and friendly hello.

Maggie loved to dance, sing, garden, bowl, play cards, travel, watching her favorite show M*A*S*H, and listening to music, especially Jim Croce. Known for her ease in frequent conversation with even total strangers, they would always part as friends. Her contagious smile, infectious laugh, entertaining sense of humor, and genuine, endearing spirit won the hearts of many and brought her lifelong friendships. Her way of listening ever so intently to every word you said, made you feel like you were the most important person on Earth. Maggie embraced life and those in it, almost to a fault, preferring to see the best in people, even before they realized it in themselves. Even through the down times, she always had a positive outlook – if her glass had any amount of water in it at all, then it was more than just half-full, to her, it might as well be overflowing!

There to meet her at the Pearly Gates – her parents, brother Alex, nephew Duane and of course St. Peter! Happy that she is finally free, but missing her terribly – her eldest daughter Susan (Jerry) and grandchildren Taylor and Joseph; her youngest daughter Elke Colleen (Derek) and granddaughter Aspen; her sister Moira, nieces and nephews Maggie, Jim, Lex (Jan), and Nicole; her sister-in-law, Helen; her brother Billy; her sister Irene, nephews Derek, Ian and Martin; nine great-nieces and five great-nephews, along with many other friends and family.

Maggie is remembered fondly for laughing until she cried and more so by giving of her love, attention and humor until someone who was crying would now be laughing. It would make Maggie happy knowing that all the love she generously shared and those it touched, pay it forward in her memory through small acts of kindness, sharing laughter, giving unsolicited hugs and smiles just because, taking the smaller cookie on the plate, and saying “I love you” more than necessary.

“Sing me a song of a lass that is gone. Say, could that lass be I? Merry of soul she sailed on a day. Over the sea to Skye.”