Margery Ellen (Copeland) Peckham

Margery Ellen (Copeland) Peckham was born on September 19th, 1931 in the Blue Hill community northeast of Hunter, Kansas to Burtram Boyd Copeland and Olga (Quade) Copeland. Both her parents passed when she was young, and she was raised by her uncle Ernest Quade and his sister Marie Quade. Marge graduated from Hunter High School, and she lived almost all her 94 years in Hunter, among cherished friends and family. At age 21 she married Dewey Peckham, with whom she raised her son Ron and shared a lifetime of laughter.

The majority of Marge’s career was at Farmer’s State Bank in Hunter, where she first worked at age 16. She made many fond memories there and truly enjoyed chatting with every person who came into the bank. She decided to retire from banking in 1981 upon the introduction of the computer.

Marge was fond of all animals. She had many joyful memories of her two Boston terriers, Sam and Missy. If a bird happened to stop by to enjoy some of the birdseed she had provided, she would stop whatever she was doing to enjoy the sight, causing a rare moment of quiet. More than all other animals, Marge adored cats. She was not allowed to keep pets as child, but she made up for it through her later years. Many stray cats enjoyed the hospitality she provided, including warm food provided daily, even in icy weather.

On display in her home, Marge kept a China cabinet filled with knickknacks: a tiny crystal salt cellar, a toothpick dispenser in the shape of a woodpecker, or a carnival glass bowl. The importance of these items was not in their monetary value, but the delight of a memory which she would share with her friends and family as she recalled how they came to be hers. She kept every card and letter she received and would often reread them even many years later. Marge did not watch television, to the marvel of new acquaintances.

But those were not Marge’s greatest joys. She loved Christ, and the church, above all else. She was baptized on November 8th, 1931, at Trinity Lutheran Church, where she remained a member all her life. She often volunteered with the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League; at various times she held LWML offices both at the local and district level. All those who spent much time with Marge would have heard her say, “Trust in God always.” She firmly held that belief until her last day, May 4th, 2026, when she passed peacefully among family.

Marge was preceded in death by her husband Dewey Peckham, her parents, Burt Boyd and Olga (Quade) Copeland, her aunt and uncle who raised her, Marie and Ernest Quade, her brothers Clarence, Arthur, and Amos Copeland, her dear sister, Dorothy Janzen, her nephew Gary Peckham, and her nieces Judy Copeland-Walck and Mary Jo Clements.

She is survived by her son Ron Peckham and his wife Tami, her grandchildren James Peckham (wife Jennifer), Robert Peckham (wife Thuy), Amanda Smith, and Nathan Doerr (wife Hailey), two great-granddaughters Mallory and Ophelia Peckham. She is also survived by her nephews Perry, Burt, Frank, and Gary Copeland, and her nieces Sondra Watts and Sherry Pippin.

The memorial service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hunter, KS at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, May 12th. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages you to make memorial donations to Trinity Lutheran Church.