Margaret "Peggy" Mary (Evans) Abbott

Margaret Mary (Evans) Abbott, affectionately known as “Peggy”, was born on March 17, 1932, and passed on to heaven September 15, 2023. Peggy’s life was marked by her compassion for others, generosity, and steadfast commitment to service and her faith.

Peggy Abbott grew up in Trenton, New Jersey, where her mother settled after immigrating through Ellis Island from Scotland. At 18 years old, with the encouragement from her Presbyterian minister, she boarded a bus and made her way to Maryville College. There she met the love of her life, Richard “Dick” Abbott. On the morning of May 19, 1954, they walked down the aisle to obtain their mutual degrees in education, and in the afternoon they walked down the aisle of Wilson Chapel on the college campus to become husband and wife.

Peggy committed her life to education for over 30 years in the East Tennessee area. She began her career as a teacher in Greenback, then moved to Vose School in Alcoa teaching special education. She continued on to Louisville School and landed at Middlesettlements Elementary, where she taught second grade for many years. Her passion for education was based solely on her love for children, extending her influence far beyond the curriculum. She had an extraordinary gift of meeting the individual needs of the children she encountered.

Since the 1950’s Peggy and Dick attended the Alcoa First Methodist Church, generously dedicating time and talents to spreading the message of Christ. She was constantly bringing awareness to causes in need and volunteering her time to them. She helped to support many missions such as Emerald Avenue Youth Foundation, Jubilee Project, Houston home for Children, Wesley House, and Wesley Foundation but always had a particular fondness for the Henderson Settlement community in Kentucky.

In addition to giving her time to Blount County children and her church, Peggy and Dick treasured family. Peggy loved their daughters, granddaughters, and great-grandsons, but she truly shined as a grandmother. For her granddaughters, she is remembered by festive New Year’s Eve parties, trips to the Smoky Mountains, and joyful holiday celebrations where she strived to build a lasting legacy and bond with her loved ones.

Though Peggy’s physical presence has departed, her memory lives on in the lives she touched and the love she shared. Most recently she made dear friends at Shannondale of Maryville who became like family. She was loved deeply by her family and members of her community and will be missed dearly. The family is genuinely appreciative of the staff at Shannondale that assisted her over the last three years.

Peggy was preceded in death by her husband Richard “Dick” Abbott, her parents William John and Elizabeth Anderson Evans, two of her beloved granddaughters, Emily Anne Ruelle and Abbie Jane Harper. She is also preceded in death by all her siblings, Violet (and Bob) Barlow, William (and Melba) Evans, and Dorothy Evans.

Peggy is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Nancy Welch (and Mike-deceased) of Maryville, Patsy and Dave Spanjers of Naples, Florida, Leyanne and Ken Harper of Maryville, Susan and Russ Ruelle of Jackson, Tennessee; her cherished granddaughters, Lauren Xixis and husband Andrew, Molley Welch, Katie Ruelle, Marianna Harper, Evan Harper, Jennifer Boss, and Julia Ruelle, four adored great-grandsons, Alex, Luke, Drew, and Jake. She is also survived by her nephews and nieces Dr. Scott Evans of Yardley, Pennsylvania, Dr. Bill Evans of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Beth Barlow Moody of Nashua, New Hampshire, and Kathy Barlow Cook of Gloucester, Massachusetts.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Alcoa Children’s Ministry. Family and friends will gather at 11:00 am Friday, September 22, 2023 at Grandview Pavilion to celebrate and honor her life.