Margaret Eagan

Margaret Isabel Eagan passed away peacefully in her own home on January 2, 2023. Margy was born July 11, 1927 in Seattle, Washington, daughter of Margaret and Harry Bidlake. She grew up in Longview, WA with two brothers, Harry and Peter. Her mother was a smart, elegant homemaker and her father worked for Weyerhaeuser Lumber Company. Margy attended R.A Long High School, graduating in 1945, and Washington State University graduating from the School of Pharmacy in 1949.

Margy had an adventurous (and sometimes mischievous) spirit and wanted to see the world. She told her parents that upon graduating from college she was leaving for Alaska. After much parental pleading, she agreed to work in Washington for a year before she left. They hoped she’d meet some nice young man close to home but she never wavered; a year to the day from graduation she left on her adventure! In 1950 she boarded MV Princess Louise enroute to Skagway, then the White Pass and Yukon Railroad to Whitehorse, and finally a small passenger plane to Fairbanks. She said that if it had been raining upon her arrival she was going to turn right around and head back to the States, as she often said she preferred the cold, crisp Alaskan days to the Washington rain. Fortunately, it was a gorgeous, classic 80 degrees summer day! She had a job waiting as a pharmacist at the Corner Drug Store which began her Alaskan career. She kept her license for many years, continuing to work part time at Professional Pharmacy while raising her family.

While at the Corner Drug Store she met Daniel F. Eagan, a handsome young Mining Engineer, lifelong Alaskan, and Foreman for the F. E. Company. He frequently stopped at the drugstore to buy gum as an excuse to enjoy conversation with the attractive new pharmacist in town.

They married July 11, 1951 on Margy’s 24th birthday in the ‘Little White Church” where Dan’s parents had married and subsequently all of their children married as well. Many adventures ensued, including the births of their 4 children: Kathleen (1953), Peter (1954), Susan (1957) and Gary (1962). In 1952 at Margy’s parents’ urging, they started the Alaska franchise for Dairy Queen; the first store opened on Cushman Street with a long line of adults and children alike waiting for a DQ cone with a curl on top. A love of ice cream continues to span generations and shows no signs of fading!

Margy loved to travel! She and Dan enjoyed many adventures including South Africa, Colombia, China, Australia, and Fairbanks Creek, and many river and ocean cruises with friends and family. She attended the 1964 Tokyo Olympics with her mother and brother, a highlight of her adventures. She traveled the world, including six continents and countless countries. She was a blast to travel with, always up for an adventure and never complaining. At age 90 she traveled with family and friends to the Galapagos. She climbed in and out of Zodiacs, hiked on lava flows, and enjoyed incredible wildlife and bird sightings. She roomed with her granddaughter Emily and their claim to fame was being the oldest and youngest on the cruise!

Despite her worldwide adventures, she loved simple pleasures, and her heart remained in Alaska; she loved fishing, hiking, road trips across Alaska, mine visits with Dan, berry-picking, and gardening under the midnight sun. She treasured peaceful Harding Lake days and Paxson Lake outings with the Hufmans, and raised her family to appreciate the many gifts the great Alaskan outdoors has to offer. She loved watching the northern lights, and learning about the stars during the winter and basking in the summer midnight sun.

In more recent years she was surrounded by local grandchildren Patty, Kelly and Danny, who were always willing to plan an outing, bring her a latte, take a walk by the river or have a visit sitting by the fire. She was a dedicated basketball fan, watching her kids while in high school and college, UAF games, or her favorite Celtics on TV. She went to two Final Fours, watching Michael Jordan hit the game-winner in New Orleans in ‘82 with son Gary by her side. She was a member of the Pioneers of Alaska Igloo #8 – and the 2013 Pioneer Queen Regent! – and active in Garden Club, PEO, Sewing Club, and the WOWS (Women of the Wilderness) for many years. She was a lifelong learner and a volunteer docent at UAF’s Museum of the North. She was an avid reader, and always had an intriguing jigsaw puzzle on the table, with an open invitation for all to place a piece.

Maybe most importantly, she was a gracious friend and mentor to so many including her family and many friends of all ages. She continued to visit lifelong friends from Longview into her 90s and attended her sorority, college and Pharmacy School reunions in Washington. She welcomed many to sit on her backyard deck or front porch loveseat to chat about the minutiae of the dandelions in the yard or world history or travels she’d enjoyed over her many decades of living a beautiful life. She was interesting, and interested. She made people feel welcome. She watched her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren play in the yard, and welcomed them to sit next to her and share a milkshake, a cup of coffee, or a latte if someone happened to swing by with one in hand. As one friend said, “she always made me feel special and welcome... she made me feel like family.”

So many family and friends will miss her. Those left behind take solace in the knowledge that she lived a long, fulfilled, independent life. We are reminded to celebrate her life every day when we sit in her kitchen and see a note posted on the cabinet, “the time to be happy is now.”

Margy is predeceased by her husband Dan, her daughter Kathleen Pate, and her parents and siblings. Her survivors include 3 children, 12 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren -- Mike Pate, Erin (Pate) and Jake Rosenberg, Keagan(8) and Olive(6); Kelsey (Pate) and Jake Kitzmiller, Tristan(8) and Geoffrey(1); Michael Pate; Pete and Robin Eagan, Kelly, Patty and Danny; Susan (Eagan) and Dean Brown, Derek and Kristina Brown, Elliott(3) and Miller (9 months); Meagan (Brown) and James Harris, Lila (3) and Annie (1); Emily (Brown) and Chris Balla; Gary and Tari Eagan, Greg, Taylor and Bradley; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A private family service will be held Friday, January 13 and a Celebration of Life will be held in late spring. A reminder will be posted at that time.

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