Margaret B. Pixley

LEBANON, N.H. — Margaret B. Pixley, 86, died early Wednesday morning, July 25, 2012, at Elizabeth Hughes Care Unit at Harvest Hill in Lebanon.

She was born Nov. 6, 1925, the daughter of Guy and Mary (Lund) Brockway. She grew up in Lyme Center and graduated from Thetford Academy in the class of 1943. She put herself through college at the University of Vermont and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics. She taught home economics in Chester, Vt.

On June 12, 1949, she married her classmate and high school sweetheart, Wendell J. Pixley. They lived in South Royalton, Vt., where she taught home economics. For 50 years, Margaret owned and operated Pixley Products. She made jams, jellies and candies which were sold throughout gift shops and farm stands in Vermont and New Hampshire. She and Wendell operated Pixley’s Greenhouse on the East Barre Road for 39 years. Margaret and Wendell lived in Barre, Vt., from 1961 to 2011 and for 22 years, they split their time between Barre and Lehigh Acres, Fla.

She was a past patron of the Eastern Star, a member of the 251 Club of Vermont and was very active with the Thetford Academy Alumni Association. She and Wendell attended nearly every Alumni Day celebration since their graduation. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, traveling and visiting family.

She is survived by a daughter, Priscilla M. Reyns, and her husband, Michael, of Walpole; a son, Charles W. Pixley, and his wife, Katherine, of Middleton; four grandchildren, Diana Dumont and her husband, Martin, of Dover, Paul Reyns, of Walpole, Andrew Pixley and his wife, Kristen, of Rochester, Emily Reyns, of Boston; a great-grandson, Jackson Dumont; as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Wendell Pixley, on May 29, 2010.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 28, 2012, at noon at the First Presbyterian Church in Barre, Vt., with pastor Carl Hilton VanOsdall officiating. Burial will be held at the convenience of the family in the Wilson Cemetery in Barre, Vt. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Thetford Academy Alumni Association, PO Box 190, Thetford, VT 05074, or the Elizabeth Hughes Care Unit, 23 Alice Peck Day Drive, Lebanon, NH 03766. Arrangements are under the direction of the Boardway & Cilley Funeral Home in Chelsea, Vt.