Peggy Henson (Boyer) Neuwirth

November 4, 1927 - February 26, 2013

SALEM - Peggy Ann Henson (Boyer) Neuwirth lived her final ten years in Salem, Oregon among the pleasant retirees at The Springs retirement community. Born "To the nicest parents on the nicest farm in Oklahoma", Peggy had one sister, Beulah Henson (Carne) of Saginaw, Texas, deceased. Those 'nicest parents', Ralph and Raymah (who lived to be 103 years old), were forced to leave their farm in 1937 when the years of the dustbowl added their weight to those of the Great Depression. Urged by relatives to join them, the Hensons migrated to Weiser, Idaho where Peggy completed her schooling. She found special pleasure as a drum majorette of the high school band, graduating in 1946. Following her school years she served as an LPN at the tiny Weiser Hospital.

Peggy particularly enjoyed dancing and in the course of that enjoyment she met, and later married, Dale Boyer of Ontario, OR. In February 1950, raising two daughters, Victoria Ann (Hagner) and Debra Jean (Halbeisen). The Boyers remained in Ontario until 1968 when Dale, an employee of the Department of Motor Vehicles, was promoted to managerial desk in Salem, establishing residence in Keizer for fifteen years where they developed a wide circle of friends, Dale serving prominently in the Keizer Volunteer Fire Dept. A later promotion took them back to Ontario where he died in 1983.

Peggy has three grandchildren: Cathy Hagner (Maynard), as well as Brice and Alex Halbeisen along with seven great grandchildren: John Maynard; Sara Duncan & Arley Culver; Spencer, Lily, & Jaxson Halbeisen; and Diego Fuimaono.

In 1988 Peggy met and married Harold "Harry" Neuwirth, joining him at his home in Silverton, Oregon for 17 years acquiring therewith two step children, Dan and Nancy plus two step grandchildren, Eli and Peyton Stuckart. During those years she enjoyed singing in the Methodist choir as well as the Silvertones, under the direction of Debbi Huddleston.

Diagnosed with cancer in 2006, she sought release from the disease with frequent visits to her oncologist and the warmhearted nurses administering chemotherapy drugs. Release finally came with her death on February 26, 2013.

A memorial service will be held for Peggy Neuwirth at the Silverton Methodist Church on Saturday, March 09 at 2:00 PM.