LEWISTON – On Friday, Jan. 25, “Peggy” Elizabeth Joyce (Furrow) McGraw died after a courageous brief battle against cancer. Born on May 6, 1938, in a log cabin on the Clark Settlement Road in Merrill, Peggy experienced all that life can offer for 69 years.

Life came and went simply with her, graduating in 1956 from Oakfield Community High School and in 1960 from the University of Maine in Orono with a teaching degree. Her passion outside of her family was teaching and inspiring many at Hampden, Bath and Lisbon High Schools for more than two decades. Aside from teaching, she was a wonderful wife and magnificent mother and grandmother who found pleasure in spending special moments with her grandchildren, baking bread, reading, crossword puzzles, sampling the tantalizing tastes the world offered, buying the occasional scratch lottery ticket and connecting with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as a member of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church of Lisbon Falls. All family, friends, past and present students wishing to share in celebrating her life and share stories are welcome.

She is survived by her husband of 47 amazing years, Gary McGraw of Lisbon; her daughter, Kimberly I. McGraw and dog, Tucker; her son, Bart I. McGraw his wife, Cheryl; and grandchildren, Aryn and Tristan McGraw of Orland; two sisters, Ralphine (Furrow) Hyson and husband, Ronald, Janet (Sholler) DeFelice and husband, Pat; a brother, Robert Furrow and wife, Donna; many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews; and a cornucopia of wonderful friends.

Peggy was predeceased by her parents, Ralph and Christine Furrow (Sholler); and grandparents, Burt and Eleanor (McNelly) Furrow and Walter and Birdie (Robinson) Sholler.