Margaret Ann Stithem

Our family lost our beloved Margaret Ann McCracken Stithem June 24th, 2021, with her son John and his wife Kelley at her side. She was born August 9th, 1928, in Carson City, Nevada to Olive and George McCracken. She lived a very full and happy 92 years and was a wonderful mom, grandmother, wife, motherin-law, friend and PEO sister to so many.

Her family thank the caring staff at Villa Capri, Santa Rosa, and Sutter Hospice for their loving support. Margaret is survived by her sons Larry Stithem of Park City, Utah, John Stithem and his wife Kelley Keogh of Santa Rosa, California, her grandsons Joshua Stithem of Santa Rosa, CA and David Stithem of San Francisco, CA, her sister Suzanne Craig, South San Francisco, CA, her nieces and nephew, their children as well as her step grandchildren and great grandchildren. Margaret grew up in Fallon, Nevada and had wonderful stories of living through the depression, WWII, playing in hay barns and how her family helped out neighbors throughout her childhood. She graduated from University of Washington with her degree in Home Economics. While at UW she met her future husband Robert (Bob) Stithem while on a blind date. Once wed they made their home in the Bay Area where they raised their two sons in Lafayette, CA. Margaret and Bob were happily married for over 60 years until Bob’s death in 2010.

From college she worked in a food lab testing and helping to develop food products. She was very proud of her work as “Ask Jane Ross” the Safeway home economist. You could stop by and tell her what your plans were for a party, and she would give advice and help plan the menu. When Bob acquired a trucking company Margaret became the dispatcher. She managed their apartment buildings for over 30 years. She was a consummate entertainer, loved hosting dinner parties for which she planned elaborate menu’s and was a master at “working a room”. One of her proudest moments was meeting and having lunch with Julia Child whose recipes she adored. She shared this love with her grandchildren as well. She was a 4-H mom and cooking teacher while supporting her sons in showing and raising livestock and guide dogs. In their retirement years she and Bob were very active in the San Francisco Symphony League, volunteering her time at the Repeat Performance store. Margaret and Bob had season tickets to the San Francisco symphony, ballet, and opera and were season ticket holders for their beloved 49ers. She was a proud PEO sister as were her mother and sister and loved her PEO family. She was an avid and skilled bridge player, a golfer and enjoyed playing mahjong. Margaret and Bob traveled extensively all over the world. Together they saw the northern lights, the horse races in Mongolia, traveled to Antarctica, both Russia and China when travel first opened in those countries and would spend weeks on end in Italy enjoying food, golf, and wine. Her last bucket list trip was completed with John and Kelley to Cuba a few years ago.

She loved life to its fullest and adored her family. She will be deeply missed. Donations in her honor can be made to one of Margaret’s passions, Planned Parenthood @ https://www. plannedparenthood.org/