MONTAGUE, Mass. – Margaret J. “Peggy” Farley of formerly of Belfast, passed away Saturday, July 14, 2012, at Cozy Corner Nursing Home, Sunderland, Mass. Peggy was born April 24, 1932, in Warwick, Mass., daughter of the late Maynard and Alice (Foster) Farley.
Peggy’s career spanned 57 years of service as a teacher and evangelist. She began her ministry in 1955 as a rural Bible teacher in Maine. She subsequently resided there as a public school teacher and then a full-time staff member for Child Evangelism Fellowship. Peggy returned to Massachusetts in 1994 to care for her mother. For the past decade, Peggy volunteered under the auspices of the Urban League providing services for clients of United ARC, Foster Grandparents and Family Friends Program. Peggy was the valedictorian of the graduating class of 1950 from New Salem Academy. She worked for a year for the former Greenfield Tap and Die before attending Nyack College, where she graduated with a diploma in Bible studies in 1954 and a bachelor’s degree in religious studies in 1955. She received a second bachelor’s degree from University of Maine, Orono, in 1964. Peggy was a former member of Morrill Baptist Church, Morrill, and North Leverett Baptist Church, Leverett, Mass., for the past 18 years.
She leaves her sister and brother-in-law, Charlotte and Gerald Carey of Shutesbury, Mass.; and brother and sister-in-law, John and Wendy Farley of Montague, Mass., with whom she most recently resided. She leaves many cherished nieces and nephews; as well as her devoted feline companion, Holly. Her brother, Maynard Farley Jr., passed away in May 2000.
A memorial service in celebration of her life and many gifts will be observed 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, at North Leverett Baptist Church, 70 North Leverett Road, Leverett, Mass., with the Rev. Larry Riddell, pastor of Moore’s Corner Church, presiding. Burial will be at the convenience of the family at Plainview Cemetery, North Leverett, Mass. Expressions of affection in the form of charitable contributions are suggested in lieu of flowers in Peggy’s memory to Cornerstone Christian School, 385 Chapman St., Greenfield, MA 01301. McCarthy Funeral Homes of Greenfield and Turners Falls, Mass., have been entrusted with the arrangements. Guest book and condolence message available at
www.mccarthyfuneralhomes.com.