Margaret S. Duffy

Margaret S. Duffy, 84, of Fernley, Nevada passed peacefully in Reno on Sunday, April 10, 2011 after a fourth bout with cancer.

Margaret, daughter of Edward Albert Suverkrop III and Elizabeth Baldwin Dodd, was born July 11, 1926 in Dayton, Ohio. She spent the majority of her childhood in Trenton, New Jersey, and Seacliffe, Long Island. She later returned to Ohio where she attended Miami University of Ohio and graduated with a Bachelor of Science. She was accepted to Medical School at Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania, but chose instead to migrate west to Reno, Nevada in 1949. While in Reno she returned to college and received her teaching credential and taught elementary school in Reno and Fernley for nearly 20 years.

In Reno she met and married George C. Peterson and had two children, Michael E. Peterson (Lindon, Utah) and D. Scott Peterson (Holliday, Utah). She later married George David Duffy, Sr. and had two additional children, John A. Duffy (Reno, Nevada) and Leeson Duffy O'Leary (Fernley, Nevada). That marriage was later solemnized in the Manti Temple.

She was a long time resident of Wadsworth and later Fernley, Nevada and also spent many years in Coos Bay, Oregon. Margaret was known for her wonderful and dry sense of humor. In fact, right up to her final days in the Renown Medical Center in Reno she was delighting the nurses with her jokes, wit and charm, always looking to make others feel comfortable whatever the circumstances. While she enjoyed the symphony or a fine Broadway play, she was equally comfortable playing with the "critters" that her children brought home, riding around the hills of Nevada with family, or driving a bulldozer or dump truck on one of the family's gold mining ventures.

An active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), she loved genealogy and spent tireless hours pursuing the records of her ancestors and compiling their stories. Her vegetable garden in Wadsworth, when her children were home, was over an acre, and she took pride in growing many unusual and exotic plants, especially in her garden in Oregon.

Margaret is survived by her four children, Michael, Scott, John and Leeson, and four step children, Debra K. Norris (Sacramento, California), Lamont J. Duffy (Lovelock, Nevada), George D. Duffy, Jr. (Lovelock, Nevada) and Connie Lou Augustine (Carrolton, Ohio). She also is survived by her niece and nephew, Susan M. Hughes (Longmont, Colorado) and David L. Hughes (New Milford, Connecticut), 13 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.

She was pre-deceased by her husband George D. Duffy, Sr. and her sister, Anne S. Hughes (Morrisville, Pennsylvania) and brother Edward A. Suverkrop IV (Denia, Alacante, Spain).

Funeral services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints chapel at 155 Highway 95A, Fernley, Nevada, on Friday, April 15, 2011. A viewing will take place from 1 to 2 pm, followed by funeral services at 2 pm and interment at the Veteran's Cemetery in Fernley, Nevada. Walton Sparks Funerals & Cremations, 1745 Sullivan Lane handled arrangements. Margaret found life a wonderful adventure, and was so thankful for the dearly loved family and friends who were part of the journey with her.




Published in Reno Gazette-Journal from April 14