Woodbury- Mary Margaret "Peggy" Baxter Byers passed away at the age of 99 on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.     She was the widow of Dr. Edward E. Byers.  Peggy was born May 12, 1924 in Pittsburgh, PA.  She was the youngest daughter of the late Clarence Aloysius 'Bud' Baxter and Ella Plunkett Baxter.

Peggy had a happy childhood and spoke often of cherished memories of life with her mother and older sister Betty and of her days at the Ursuline Academy in Pittsburgh, a Catholic boarding school that she and her sister attended from elementary through high school.  Her summers were spent at Camp Horne, a camp run by Horne's Department store where her mother Ella worked for many years as a buyer.  After high school, Peggy attended secretarial school where she learned typing, Dictaphone and other office skills.

After WWII, she met Dr. Edward Byers, fell in love and got married in March of 1950.  Ed and Peggy left Pittsburgh and lived in Wisconsin, Ohio and Boston, MA before settling in Stamford, CT where they lived for 38 years before retiring in Woodbury, CT.  In Stamford, they raised their four children and made lifelong friends fondly nicknamed 'The Butternut Gang'.  They enjoyed many holiday parties, backyard barbecues, and vacation trips that created memories and cemented friendships.

Peggy loved working and took great pride in her job skills.  She told her children that there was no better feeling in the world than getting up in the morning and getting dressed to go to work.  She was a maverick and worked full time during an era when society suggested that women should be content to stay home with house and children.  She worked in many different secretarial and administrative jobs both part time and full time but her best memories were the 15+ years she worked at Fidelifacts, a small investigative firm in Stamford, CT where she transcribed investigators' notes into polished reports and kept the office running smoothly until she finally retired at age 70.  In addition to her work, Peggy was also an active volunteer in the Stamford public schools, and The Stamford Museum and Nature Center.

After the death of her husband, Peggy moved to Woodbury, CT to be closer to her two daughters. She lived there for another 24 years.  She was an active member of the Woodbury Women's Club, a Diner's Club and a Study Group.  She made many close friends in her neighborhood and enjoyed exploring the area with these friends.

Peggy was predeceased by her husband Dr. Edward E. Byers and by her sister Elizabeth 'Betty' Jeanne O'Neill of Milwaukee, WI.  She is survived by her son Edward B. Byers and his wife Carol of Milford, OH, her daughter Jeanne E. (Byers) Hawley and her husband Robert of Woodbury, CT, her daughter Constance A. (Byers) Adamski and her husband Tom of Southbury, CT and her son Robert D. Byers of Woodbury, CT. as well six grandchildren, Caitlyn Byers, Kyle, Rebecca and Lara Hawley, Kimberly Adamski and Jaimie Byers. She is also survived by her nephew James Young and wife Nancy of Pittsburgh PA and her niece Deborah Wetherell and husband Robert of Idaho.

Peggy was a devoted wife and loving mother.  She was fiercely proud of her Irish heritage and was a devout Catholic.  She had a small plaque hanging in her home that says "If you are lucky enough to be Irish, you are lucky enough".  She loved reading and enjoyed old movies.  Gone with the Wind was a favorite. She enjoyed her coffee in the morning and a glass of wine with dinner and she never said no to ice cream.  She loved all animals from family pets to the turkeys, bears and other critters that frequented her backyard.  There was a wild crow in her backyard that she fed and fondly nicknamed Henry.  She will be remembered for her feisty nature, her independent spirit and her quick wit.  She was proud of her family and looked forward to visits with them.

Special thanks to the caring 'angels' who made it possible for our Mom to stay in her home. They are Louise Barjon, Benter Okuom, Judith Fairclough-Thomas and Eva Verbickas.  We will always be grateful to them. Thank you also to kind neighbors who frequently checked on her and gifted her with cards, flowers and sweet treats.  Very special thanks to her nephew Jim Young who visited when he could and called her every week to say hi until the day she passed.

Arrangements will be handled by Munson-Lovetere Funeral Home in Woodbury. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, August 12, 2023 at 10:00 am at St. Teresa of Avila Church in Woodbury.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to either The Dr. Edward E and M. Margaret Byers Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Woodbury Scholarship Fund Dollars for Scholars, P.O. Box 716, Woodbury, CT 06798 or Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust in Woodbury, CT 06798.