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Born Feb 2, 1929 Died peacefully of natural causes in The Views at St. Josephs hospital on Jan. 3, 2016.

Born Margaret Rice to parents Jay Van Rice and Blanch Rice in Montebello California. She is survived by son Noel Chaney (Pam) grandchildren Silvia, Matt and Tim. Daughter Teresa Chaney (Mike Gilbert) of Courtenay BC. Also survived by Son-in-law Ron Cohn, Granddaughter Kimarie Hoard and great grandson William Hoard in California. She is pre-deceased by Husband William Chaney, second husband Charles Williams, oldest daughter Katherine Chaney (Cohn) and older sister Mary Annette Rice (Oswald). Margaret suffered the devastating loss of her two grandsons in a house fire in 1982 in Prince George BC. Brook Chaney and Bram Chaney were the loves of her life to which she was devoted Mom #2. Other survivors include niece and nephew Joanne Oswald (Jim Calloway) and Phil Oswald along with two generations of their extended families in Texas and Arizona.

Margaret grew up in southern California during the depression and WWII when it was still a series of small communities. She graduated from Whittier Union High School in 1947 and married the father of her children in 1948. She loved being a mother and home maker and lived in Sacramento California from 1952-1969 where she also worked as a supply clerk for the State of California for 10 years.

Margaret remarried in 1965 and moved, with here family, to northern BC in 1969. They bought 160 acre of undeveloped land, north of Prince George, and lived off grid for several years until power eventually came in, wells got dug and plumbing got built. Margaret loved her life in the bush learning to farm and raise livestock. She particularly loved her 5 horses, dogs, a three legged fox and way too many cats. Margaret went to work for BC Tel as a draftsman in 1970 in Prince George BC. She enjoyed her work and made many friends there until retirement in Abbotsford BC in 1994. She served as an FTW then TWU shop steward to Local 26 for many years.

After retirement she moved to Cumberland BC to be near her family. She enjoyed her home and garden in Cumberland and being close to family through her retirement years. Margaret became a Canadian citizen in 1976 and was always quite proud of that. She made regular visits to California over the years to visit family but always treasured her home and life here in BC. Margaret will be missed but she’s busy catching up with her boys now.

A wake will be held at Michael’s off Main on Tuesday, February 2nd from 4 to 7 PM.



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