Margaret Esbaugh

Margaret "Peg" Louise Ely Esbaugh, 96, passed away peacefully on April 27, 2024, in Morehead City, North Carolina.

Peg was born in Northville, Michigan on September 15, 1927, to Claude and Lydella (Murdoch) Ely, remaining there until enrolling at Michigan State University.  She was an active member of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, graduated with a degree in education in 1949, and remained a loyal and devoted Spartan fan throughout her life.

At MSU Peg met her future husband, Kent. Upon graduation, they were married and enjoyed 51 happy years together. While raising their family, they lived in Augusta, GA, Fort Leavenworth, KS, East Lansing, MI, and Grand Rapids, MI, before moving to Marshall, MI in 1964.

Peg taught elementary school for over 36 years, and enjoyed watching her young students grow up and become contributing members of the Marshall community.   She was a very active member of the First Presbyterian Church and volunteered with numerous community organizations including the Historical Society, Oaklawn Hospital Auxiliary and MACS.   

Peg enjoyed an active lifestyle in Marshall, which included a large group of close friends that became extended family to her daughters. Those friends became part of the annual Twelve Days of Christmas Party that she and Kent hosted, shared in extensive travel in Europe and throughout the United States, and became passengers in Peg’s van as they loaded up and headed to Florida for fun-filled trips during the winter months.

Peg also loved their family cottage in Northern Michigan on Rifle Lake. She began going as a child, camping on the property in tents surrounded by extended family.  After the cottage was built, she and Kent would bring the four girls and spend summers there, inviting many friends and family to come share in the enjoyment, beauty and serenity of Rifle Lake.   Fishing, canoeing, water skiing, puzzles, card playing, campfires, and Grandma’s famous fireworks, were some of the simple pleasures Peg cherished at the cottage. Many fond and lasting memories have been created there and passed on through future generations.

In her later years, Peg moved to Morehead City, NC to be closer to family, and became a beloved resident of Brookdale Senior Living.  She will be remembered there as a resident who loved to make the staff laugh and enjoyed the beautiful “blue skies” of North Carolina.

Peg is preceded in death by her parents, Lydella and Claude Ely; her husband, Ernest Kent Esbaugh; and daughter Claudia Lee Schwendeman. 

She is survived by her daughters, Wendy (Bruce) Cozad of Traverse City, MI, Susan (Tim) Havlicek of Morehead City, NC, and Kimberly (Tom) Nevin of Kiawah Island, SC; son-in law, Don Schwendeman of Troy, NY; grandchildren, Andrew, Michael, Kimberlyn, Robert, Sarah, Veronica, Kaitlyn and Thomas; and four great grandchildren.

The family wishes to acknowledge the loving care “Miss Peg” received from the staff of Brookdale Morehead City and Gentiva Hospice.   

 A Memorial Service to honor Peg’s life will be held at Kempf Funeral Home in Marshall at a future date. A private interment will be at Oakridge Cemetery, Marshall, Michigan.

 Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net

 Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., Morehead City, N.C.