SOUTH PORTLAND- Margaret Pearson Swartz, age 58, of South Portland, went to be with her Savior on May 19, 2016, at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, in the presence of her husband Tim and family members. Margaret was born in Damariscotta, Maine on September 10, 1957. She was raised in Andover, Maine, and graduated from Dirigo High School as valedictorian of her class. She graduated from Covenant College, and was a lifelong teacher. She has taught in Georgia, Newark, NJ, New York City, Kenya and Maine; at various times she has taught elementary, middle school, high school, and college. Margaret has a masters’ in Environmental Science from Queens College, and caring for God’s creation has always been central in her life and teaching. She loved children, and helped many children come to appreciate and enjoy the outdoors through hikes, planting, and nature studies.
Margaret and her husband Tim enjoyed hiking, biking, camping, walking on the beach, gardening, offering hospitality, reading the Bible, singing, and serving God together in a variety of ways. They were part of the First Evangelical Free Church in Westbrook. She valued close connections with her circle of friends and they in turn were enriched by her life. They saw her true inner self in her genuineness in kindness, understanding and humility. Margaret also served in many ways over the years at Camp Peniel in Lake Luzerne, NY, through the Root Cellar in Portland, and the South Portland Land Trust.
Margaret is survived by her beloved spouse, Timothy Swartz, by her mother, Mary B Pearson, her siblings Ted Pearson and wife Joni, Alice Peterson and husband Dan, Dan Pearson and wife Sonya, Tim Pearson and wife Wendy, Peter Pearson and wife Erika, many much loved nephews and nieces, and many, many faithful friends and her cat Mwende.
Visitation hours will be held Saturday, June 4th from 6 to 8 PM and a memorial service will be held Sunday June 5th at 2 PM, both at First Evangelical Free Church of Westbrook. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Margaret’s name to the Peniel Bible Conference, Box 369, Lake Luzerne, NY 12846.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service, Buxton. Online condolence messages can be expressed at www.mainefuneral.com