Margaret Wiley

Margaret Isolina Peak Wiley passed away with her family by her side at St. Luke's Hospital on Monday, February 28, 2005. She was born in the family home in Topeka on February 14, 1926. She was the only child of Eugene Peak and Lenora Pierce Peak. She married Donald Earl Wiley, of Enumclaw, Washington on August 5, 1948, he survives. She is survived also by her daughter, Donna Jean Deever and her husband Bob, of Topeka, and her son Dr. Bruce R. Wiley of Greybull, Wyoming. She also is survived by grandsons Douglas Eugene Deever, 16 and Michael Glenn Deever, 13, of Topeka and Cheyenne Wiley, 12 and Julian Wiley, 10, of Greybull, Wyoming along with many loving and long time friends. She graduated from Topeka High School and then continued her education at Kansas State University. She earned a Bachelors Degree in Dietetics and then continued to the University of Washington, in Seattle, to become a Registered Dietician. Mrs. Wiley then taught as an assistant professor in the School Dietetics at the University of Washington for two years. She returned to KSU as a staff member in the Department of Dietetics. Margaret and Donald moved to Topeka in 1952 after Donald arrived home from the Korean Conflict. Mrs. Wiley then began working for the Kansas Gas Service Company as a dietician and would provide new gas stove customers with home demonstrations. In 1953 she became both the Dietician and a teacher fo Highland Park High School. In 1963, Shawnee Heights High School opened and she was the head Dietician and part-time Home Economics teacher. In 1964, she began working on her Master's Degree from Kansas State University and completed it in the spring of 1966. She then became the full-time foods teacher at Shawnee Heights High School. During her years at Shawnee Heights High School, she was active in many activities: in the infancy of the school, she was an assistant track coach, created a Boy's Food Club, later served as President of SHEA and was on many teacher-board negotiation teams, and in 1991 was named Outstanding Teacher of the Year. She enjoyed being head Jr. Prom Sponsor several times and was head of the concession stand for all the sporting events for many years. She retired from Shawnee Heights High School in 1992. Outside of school, she was a member of the Topeka Home Economics Club and a Lifetime Member of American Cooking Club. She was an active member of Alpha Delta Kappa and earned the title of Silver Sister. She served the organization in many offices through out the years. She became a member of Delta Theta Chi in 1994 and served in many offices including Immediate Past President. The family, are members of Highland Park United Methodist Church where she and her husband were Sunday School teachers and Youth Sponsors for many years. She also was a member of the United Methodist Women organization of the church. Mrs. Wiley was an avid quilter, reader of books, loved to cook and try new recipes for family and friends, and was deeply involved with her children and grandchildren's activities. Family and friends will gather for visitation from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. today at the Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel. The funeral will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 5 at the Highland Park United Methodist Church. Burial will be immediately following at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shawnee Heights Public School Foundation, 4401 SE Shawnee Heights Rd. Tecumseh, KS 66542; or the Delta Theta Chi Loretta Cutler Scholarship Fund, c/o Syble Cocannouer; 9129 Murray Ct. Wichita, KS 67212-4156. A special message for the family may be left online at www.penwellgabel.com