Margaret Magee McShea

Margaret Magee McShea, known affectionately as Peggy, passed away on March 7, 2026, at her home in Bonita Springs, Florida. She was 83. Born on November 27, 1942, in Long Branch, New Jersey, Peggy was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother whose life centered on family, teaching, and the outdoors.

A dedicated educator, Peggy taught elementary school for 33 years at Thornton's Ferry School in Merrimack, New Hampshire. She earned her BS in Education from Keene State College and her MS in Education from Notre Dame College in Manchester, New Hampshire. She found deep fulfillment in working with children.

In 1965, Peggy married William “Bill” McShea in Fair Haven, New Jersey. The couple recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Together they raised their family in Manchester, Merrimack, and Nashua, New Hampshire, before moving to Bonita Springs, Florida, in 2017 after many winters spent there. She is survived by her husband William, daughter Nancy McShea and her wife Patti French-McShea, granddaughter Molly French-McShea, all of Cape Coral, Florida, and grandson Kyle French-McShea and his fiancée Erin Midea of Fort Myers, Florida. She is also survived by her sister Nancy Jean Hahn of Oak Island, North Carolina, and her sister-in-law Laurette “Fudgie” Mullen of Manchester, New Hampshire. She was preceded in death by her son William Eugene Magee and her parents Eugene Mortemore Magee and Gertrude Regina Magee (Spoerl).

Peggy cherished time with family and friends. An avid downhill skier, she loved collecting shells on Florida’s beaches. For 41 years she and her family traveled the country and Canada in their RV, with special fondness for Alaska and Newfoundland. She excelled at bean bag toss, winning numerous trophies, and was an enthusiastic bicyclist who often rode 30 miles a week and led a bicycle club in Bonita. She shared her life with many beloved dogs and supported animal protection efforts. Though she took only three, she greatly enjoyed ocean cruises. At her request, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.