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With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, Peggy M. Schaefer, who left us on February 20, 2025, at the age of 71.
Peggy was born on March 5, 1953, in Vernon, TX to Van D. Herrin and Gladys E. Parker. Peggy was raised in Alamogordo, NM, where she attended school and laid the foundation for her lifelong commitment to education. She pursued her college studies at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, where she earned her degree in education.
Peggy returned to her hometown to begin her lifelong career as a Language Arts teacher. Peggy’s dedication to teaching over the course of 27 years left a lasting mark on countless lives, impacting communities across several states in the Southwest.
Peggy spent much of her free time cultivating her garden, where she found peace and joy in nurturing her plants. Along with her green thumb, Peggy had an immense love for animals, treating each one with kindness and care. She was an avid reader, always immersing herself in books, and found creative expression through various forms of art. Her boundless creativity and compassion made her a beloved figure to those who knew her.
Peggy M. Schaefer is survived by her two devoted children, John Paul Martin (and his spouse Marc Lussier) of Annapolis, MD, and Kari Newman (and her spouse Jason) of Bedford, MA; her cherished grandchildren, Kaitlin and Jakob Newman of Bedford, MA; as well as many dear friends and extended family.
Though she is no longer with us, Peggy’s legacy of love, kindness, and dedication will live on in the hearts of all who knew her. She will be deeply missed, but her memory will forever remain a source of inspiration and comfort to those she leaves behind.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation @ https://www.bcrf.org/ or Best Friends Animal Society @ https://bestfriends.org/
