Margaret Ann Blackburn

​Margaret “Peggy” Smith Blackburn, 76, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, September 3rd, 2020 at the Bowers Hospice House in Beckley, West Virginia. She passed peacefully while comforted by her beloved husband and only daughter.
She is proceeded in death by her parents, Alexander and Virginia Smith.
Margaret leaves behind her husband of 57 years and lifelong sweetheart, William “Steve” Blackburn; her children- Steven Blackburn and wife Tonya of Stonewood, WV; David Blackburn of Beckley, WV; Kaitlin Shrader of Daniels, WV; and Michael Blackburn of Clarksburg,WV. She also leaves her six grandchildren whom she completely adored- Cassandra Wise and husband Michael Wise of Columbus, IN; Alex Blackburn of Parkersburg, WV; Haley Blackburn of Stonewood, WV; Tyler Blackburn of Beckley, WV; McKenzie and Lindsey Davis of Daniels, WV; and bonus grandchild Cyiah White of Stonewood, WV; and her 2 great-grandsons Michael W. Wise and Kai Blackburn. She also leaves behind her brother, William “Butch” Smith, and wife Becky of Flat Top, WV; her sister, Kathryn Hawley and husband Sherman of Tega Cay, SC; Sisters-in-law Phyllis Grove of Charlestown, WV; and Patty Lane and husband Billy of Stanaford, WV; as well as many nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews, aunts and cousins. In addition to family she leaves her best friends Kay Bair of Prosperity, WV & Donna Reynolds of Purcellville, VA as well as those in her church congregation and patients whom she cared deeply for.
​Margaret was born on June 14th , 1944 in Stanaford, WV. She was the eldest daughter in a strong willed and driven Scottish family. In 1950, at the age of 6 years old- Margaret met the love of her life, Steve. She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1962. They married in 1963 and soon after began their family, having 4 children over a period of 10 years. In 1966 they moved to Rochester, NY where they lived for 10 years. During this time Margaret was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In 1976, the family returned to West Virginia where they spent the remainder of their married life surrounded by close family and friends.
Margaret had a 24 year career as a beautician. In that time, she owned several beauty salons around the Beckley area including Hair Slickers, Maggie’s Boutique and The Hair’Em. In 1994 she graduated with her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Mountain State University. After obtaining her BSN she furthered her education by becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner receiving her Master’s degree from West Virginia University. Margaret spent the remainder of her career caring for patients as the owner of Mount Hope Medical in Mount Hope, WV and later Express Care Clinic in Crab Orchard, WV. Almost daily she would talk about how much she loved her job and her patients. ​
​Anyone who knew Margaret was immediately met with her charisma and love of life. Her smile and laugh were infectious. She was quick witted and her sense of humor was hard to match. She was unable to spend even brief amounts of time in public without stopping to chat with whomever she desired. Her love of art could be seen in her collections of paintings, paint supplies, and “how-to” books scattered across her home. She was a woman who could not be tamed nor answer to anyone, which ultimately led her to be an entrepreneur and owner of the several aforementioned businesses. Margaret loved taking trips with friends, and to the beach with family, had a disposition for impulsively buying puppies, and fiercely loved her grandchildren whom she doted on regularly. In her later years, as her health began to fade, she could often be found in the company of family and friends proclaiming that her “time” would soon arrive when she would meet her heavenly father and rejoice, citing that it would be the happiest day of her life.
Margaret will be laid to rest at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens on Wednesday, September 9th, 2020 at 11am. Per her request there will only be graveside services.
​The family would like to thank those at PCH Home Health (she adored Shannon and Barbara) and Bowers Hospice House of Southern West Virginia as well as Dr. Kelly Pitsenbarger who all took such good care of Margaret in her final days.
​In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made to Bowers Hospice House of Southern West Virginia located at 454 Cranberry Drive, Beckley, WV 25801. A Go Fund me account has been established to ease donation.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-remembrance-of-margaret-blackburn?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1