Margaret 'Maggie' Wood

Margaret #8220;Maggie#8221; (McGowan) Wood, born February 3, 1916 on an Alberta, Canada homestead near the Peace River passed away at age 92 at her home in Bozeman, Montana on February 21, 2008. The daughter of an Irish train engineer and a Polish immigrant mother, Maggie, her sisters Eleanor and Mary, and her brothers Mac, John and Pat grew up on the plains of Alberta as well as Hamilton and Butte Montana. Maggie moved to California in the 1940#8217;s with her family where she met and fell in love with her husband, William #8220;Elly#8221; Wood during the World War II. During the war, she was a Red Cross nurse, and worked as a seamstress and an artist for Walt Disney. A strong athlete, she spent many hours swimming in the Pacific Ocean near Huntington Beach. Maggie#8217;s husband Elly was a trusted ranchman and thus the family worked at some of the largest ranches in California, Nevada and Montana. Besides being a steadfast rancher#8217;s wife and raising 3 daughters, Maggie truly loved horses and trained many colts to accept halters and leading in preparation for ranch work. At the end of their ranching life, Maggie and Elly returned to their beloved Montana and enjoyed many summers along the Gallatin River. They resided year round in Bozeman. Maggie loved to play cards with her friends and she usually won. She also stayed sharp by completing crossword puzzles (in ink!). Maggie enjoyed watching birds at her bird feeders and was very compassionate about all animals. Her constant companion for the last few years was a grey cat she named #8220;Kat#8221; adopted from the local shelter. Maggie was very proud of her three daughters and all of their adventures. Maggie#8217;s love of painting stayed with her until her 91st birthday. Her last painting was with her sister, Eleanor, and her dear friend Irene Kimm. She was preceded in death by her dedicate and fun loving husband Elly Wood after 50 years of marriage. She is survived by her three daughters, Trudy C. Wood of San Diego, CA, Jo Ann Wood of Bozeman, and Marilyn A. Wood of Bigfork, MT, her sister Eleanor McGowan McGuire of Lake Forest, CA and several nieces and nephews that she loved and encouraged throughout her long life. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on March 8th Saturday at Dahl#8217;s Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Bozeman Deaconess Hospice, 931 Highland Blvd.suite # 3200, Bozeman, MT 59715 and Eagle Mount, 6901 Goldenstein Lane, Bozeman, MT 59715. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.dahlcares.com