Margaret Leanna Millgate Dalley, “Aunt Mugs”, died Friday July 22, 2011. She passed away in her sleep at Wind River Health Care and Rehabilitation where she was a resident of almost 10 years. She was 70 years old.
Margaret was born to James Millgate and Mary Bernice James Nichol on November 28, 1940 in Millard County, Utah. She was married to Leon Adus Dalley of Iron County, Utah until his death in June of 1979. During her marriage she had three children.
She lived in Delta, Utah until the age of 47. She moved to Moran, Wyoming the summer of 1987 where she was able to fulfill a lifetime dream of cooking at a mountain ranch and eventually settled in Jackson Hole surrounded by the beauty of the Grand Teton Mountain Range.
Places of employment included: Tops City Café, Hinkley Sewing Plant, IPP (Intermountain Power Project), Heart Six Ranch, Teton Valley Ranch Camp, Teton County School District, and finally Jackson Elementary School until the effects of Dementia rendered her disabled in 1999.
She enjoyed reading, sewing, embroidery, and gardening. She loved animals and children. She took frequent trips as Fall progressed to Oak City Canyon, to show her children and grandchildren God’s glorious colors. She remained a member of the LDS Church till her death. She loved cooking and doted hopelessly over her grandchildren. She was fiercely protective and unconditionally loving of her family.
While she was unable to fulfill her dream of becoming a nurse, she made up for it by tending to the small flesh wounds and broken hearts of her children. Anyone who knew Margaret loved her, she had a way of being remembered by almost everyone with whom she came in contact. She was truly unselfish, someone who rarely kept an opinion to herself, loved to the fullest and worked extremely hard to make life for her children better than it had been for her.
Margaret is survived by: two daughters, Leona Dalley (Mellor) and Natasha Hatfield-Peck; ten grandchildren, Ashley Walker, JD Horlacher, Chelsea Hafen, Brian Petro, Jamie Dalley, Nikki Dalley, Nathan Hatfield, Avery Hatfield, Keira Peck, Ellinore Peck; eight great grandchildren; brother, Bert Nichols; and sister, Ella Woods.
She was preceded in death by: her parents; husband Leon Adus Dalley; son James Lee Dalley; brothers Ferran Millgate, Jessie Millgate, Billy Nichols; and sister Veda Millgate Carol.
Cremation has taken place and services have not been planned at this time. An online guest book has been set up and the family would like to ask that anyone who knew her leave a story or memory for us, www.thedavisfuneralhome.com. Memorials for Margaret can be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation c/o Davis Funeral Home 2203 West Main Street, Riverton, Wyoming 82501.
Our family would like to extend a personal note of gratitude to the Teton County School District in Jackson, Wyoming for all their help at the onset of our mother’s illness. We’d also like to thank Wind River Health Care and Rehabilitation for all the kindness and care given to our mother over these long and painful 10 years. And finally many thanks to family and friends for the years of encouragement and support through the progress of this terrible undignified disease.
Margaret Leanna Millgate Dalley will always be remembered as a mother, grandmother, and the epitome of love t