Peggy Jo McBrayer (Wilson)

Peggy Jo McBrayer (Wilson)

March 13, 1940 - August 14, 2026

On August 14, 2026, Peggy was welcomed into heaven by her Redeemer, Christ Jesus after a long and fruitful life of eighty six years. Peggy is survived by her treasured daughter, Katherine, her much loved grandson, Laithen (Paige), and her great grand daughter, Hunter. She is also survived by her brothers, John Sr., Thomas (Ellen), James (Jan), many neices and nephews, grand neices and nephews, cousins in Southern Illinois and dear friends. Peggy was preceeded in death by her beloved husband of 65 years, John, her precious son, Howard and much loved daughter-in-law, Glenda, her parents, Woodrow and Lola, her infant sister, Dolores, Wilson sister-in-laws, Alice and Patsy, her McBrayer in-laws, Howard (Naomi), Robert (Wanda), William (Connie), George (Sue), Barbara, and her dearest friend of 50 years, Susan Maxwell. Peggy was born at home in Harrisburg, Illinois on March 13, 1940 to Edward Woodrow Wilson and Lola Mae Wilson (Johnson). She was the third of their five children. She grew up within a close extended family in Southern Illinois and Northwest Indiana. Her faith walk with God began early. She accepted Christ at the age of seven at a Salvation Army revival service in Harrisburg. She still had the engraved bible she was given that night. Peggy retained that child like faith and trust in Christ her entire life. In the winter of 1950, the family moved from Southern Illinois to Northwest Indiana. Peggy thrived here. When in eighth grade, she was awarded the student of the year at Evans Elementary School and honored before the entire school at the end of year program. In her things, she had kept that award as a special treasure. On December 6, 1956 during a chance meeting, Peggy met the love of her life, John McBrayer. Within two weeks, he asked the 16-year-old Peggy to marry him. She laughed. He perservered. On August 6, 1957, John and Peggy eloped accompanied by her big brother and sister-in-law, John and Alice Wilson. They were married before a Justice of the Peace in Corinth, Mississippi. Each year, John brought Peggy a bouquet of red roses to honor the day they met. Peggy and John's elopement did interrupt her formal education. She was slated to graduate with class of 1958 from Hobart High School. With only two credits to complete for graduation, she attended Portage night school completing her credits. She was awarded a high school diploma from Hobart High School in 1963. Peggy continued her creative arts and college level liberal arts education through night school classes offered at Portage High School. Each winter, she would paint, sculpt, sew, woodworking, pottery, ceramics, refinishing antiques and cake decorating. Her creativity was boundless. Peggy completed a technical certificate in Medical Assisting in 1979 from Indiana Vocational Technical College. She spent the next several years working as a clinical assistant for a local surgeon, Dr. Kilmer. Peggy completed an Associates Degree in Nursing from Indiana University Northwest in 1983. In area facilities, Peggy worked med/surg telemetry, five years in oncology, locked psychiatric, long term skilled nursing care and administration, trained nurse's aids and provided in home health care. She became a wound care specialist. She was one of the special nurses gifted with a "healing touch". Her nursing career spanned 22 years before being ended by a head on collision and catastrophic back injury in 2000. Family and service was at the core of Peggy's life. She was a devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister, sister-in-law and friend. She was the ready hands to help in times of crisis. She had a servant's heart for her family, friends, and community. Peggy and John could always be counted on to be there for the people that they cared about. Life was always busy for Peggy. During their first year of marriage, John and Peggy built their first home in Portage. In September of 1958, they welcomed their daughter, Katherine. In December of 1960, they were delighted in the birth of their son, Howard. Their family was complete. In the fall of 1973, Peggy and John began a new adventure with the purchase of six acres of undeveloped farm land. This purchase would fill and frame the rest of their lives. With the help of Kathy and Howard, this became "The Farm". Within a few years, a new home, barn, huge garden, orchard, grape arbor, berry thickets and a menagerie of farm animals and pets filled the farm to over flowing. From the beginning, this has always been Peggy's "happy place". Each year, she delighted in walking through her flower beds. She loved to take pictures of her flowers, birds who came to feed, family and friends who came to visit. Peggy's service also extended to the community. Through the years, Peggy was a Brownie leader, Girl Scout leader, Cub Scout den mother, Webelow leader, classroom mother, Porter County Democratic Party member, election poll worker, member of the regional rail road safety commitee (NRPC), a supporter of the Hobart Humane Society and a volunteer with the "Neuter Scooter" for cats. Her love of flowers and community service were combined in her years with the Portage Garden Club. When it was discovered that "the Farm" and 66 other homes around them had been condemned and designated as a "blighted area" by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management due to residential water wells contaminated with industrial barium and other heavy metals, Peg went to work. Mobilizing the community, state and local politicians, state agencies, and Waste Managment, Peggy waged a two year letter writing and phone campaign for a solution to this catastrophic public health emergency. The "squeakiest wheel" moved mountains. The State of Indiana provided a $125,000 grant for the installation of city water. After Peg contacted Waste Management, an additional $550,000 grant was given to complete the project. With the recent new home expansion in the area, far more than the original 66 families are now blessed with safe and clean drinking water. She has left an abundant legacy and blessing for hundreds of families. For fifteen years, Peggy and John split their time between the farm and Kentucky Lake. Laithen would come and stay with them each year for the month of June. Magical days spent with their grandson sharing their love of nature and fishing. The time spent at the lake was a relaxing respite filled with fishing, friends and enjoying western Kentucky.

In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

A memorial service honoring Peggy's life will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. on the west shore of Lake George by the fishing pier at Festival Park, 111 East Old Ridge Road, Hobart. There will be a one hour visitation prior to the service. A service honoring Peggy will begin at 11:00 a.m. A luncheon will be served at 12:00 p.m. at Bon Vie restaurant, 54 Main Street, Hobart. Please text a RSVP to 219-508-6852.