Margaret (Blakely) Ingraham passed away at her home on October 28, 2013. She was a life-long resident of North Billerica, residing on Mount Pleasant Street for much of her life. Born February 11, 1915, she was the daughter of Alexander Blakely who emigrated from Ireland and Helen (Mueller) Blakely who emigrated from Denmark. Margaret, who grew up during the Great Depression, learned to be frugal but not penurious. She would say she had an idyllic childhood. Her father tended the Clark Estate on Mount Pleasant Street and resided in the cottage to the rear of the estate. She died just a stone's throw away from where she was born. Although her father did not enjoy a high standard of living, Margaret would often say the bounty afforded by the gardens and animals on the estate provided security during her early years. It was at this time that she learned to love animals, tending the cows, horses, and pigs that were under her father's care. It was also here that she learned to play tennis and would become the Woman's Doubles Tennis Champion of North Billerica. Margaret graduated from Howe High School in Billerica in 1932 and went on to Jackson College (then the women's part of Tufts College). Although she was reluctant to leave her home in North Billerica, she came to enjoy college life, but was always true to her roots. After graduating from Jackson in 1937, Margaret began what she referred to as her first career, teaching in the Billerica School system. It was here that she met her husband, the late Chester D. Ingraham. They were wed on June 16, 1941. The War interrupted their marriage as it did so many people of her generation. While her husband was overseas in England, Margaret held many positions, working as munition's inspector at Remington Arms, packing parachutes at a company in Lowell, and working at the Post office before teaching briefly in the Tewksbury School system. Upon the return of her husband, Margaret settled into the life of a housewife raising two sons, Alec Ingraham and Allan C. Ingraham, both of North Billerica. Little did she know at the time that her second career awaited. After the sudden and untimely death of her husband in 1966 and the death of her aged mother in 1970, Margaret accepted a job teaching disabled students at the Hajjar School in North Billerica. She retired from this much loved position in 1988. Margaret did not go slowly into retirement; she continued her interest in the Town and was appointed Town Historian by the Board of Selectmen in 1992. In 1996 Margaret was chosen again by the Board of Selectmen to receive the Distinguished Community Service Award. Margaret also enjoyed selling vegetables at her Mount Pleasant Street roadside stand. Even today some of her customers will say, "Margaret told me how to make my garden better." Margaret touched many lives and had a positive effect on most people who know her. She will be missed by many. During her life she was a life member of the Billerica Historical Society, a member of the Billerica Historical Commission, a secretary of the Town's Conservation Commission, and a member of the North Billerica Baptist Church to name a few of the many organizations in which she was involved. Besides her loving sons, she is survived by two adoring nieces, Barbara Lewis of Golden, CO and Jane Joukema of Aurora, CO; her loving care giver, Karen Downer; and her irascible basset hound, Danny. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by her brother, Alexander M. Blakely.