Peggy Lambert

Peggy Joanne Lambert, 74, died Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011, at home in Blodgett. Peggy was born Jan. 5, 1937, in Corvallis to Marvin B. and Thelma C. Clark. She is survived by her husband, H. Dwaine Lambert; her daughter, Sherry Hall of Salem; her sons, Bryan B. Epperly of Blodgett and Anderson (Andy) Epperly, also of Blodgett; grandsons Travis Hall of Salem and Jordan Epperly of Philomath; four stepchildren, Michael, Roy, Kathryn and Daniel; 11 step-grandchildren; and her sisters, Margaret Cook of Corvallis and Dorothy Cleveland of Albany. She was preceded in death by her brothers Marvin Jr. (who died in infancy) and Robert Otto Rhinehart. Peggy lived virtually all her life in the Blodgett area, graduated from Corvallis High School in 1955, and maintained lifelong friendships with many of her classmates. She was married in 1956 to Tommy Martin Epperly, and maintained a good relationship with him even after their divorce, in order to co-parent their three children. Peggy and Tommy lived in Guam for two years while he was stationed at Anderson Air Force Base, and their daughter, Sherry, was born there. She had an interesting job history, at one time working as an oral surgery assistant, an Avon representative and a waitress. She worked for more than 10 years driving a rural bus route for Olson Bus Company of Philomath, which she considered a calling. Her "bus kids" were a real joy to her; she loved to see them grow up, and cherished maintaining ties with many of them. She established and maintained A-1 Taxi Service in Corvallis as owner and occasionally a driver for more than seven years in the 1990s. Peggy had a real volunteer spirit. She was a neighborhood captain for the March of Dimes Mother's March, and lent her talents and leadership to the Blodgett-Summit Tail Twisters 4-H Club. She spent every Benton County Fair weekend for a number of years camping at the fairgrounds to mentor the 4-H kids, help run 4-H events and just have a good time. She was a founding member of the Blodgett-Summit Community Fire Department; she was instrumental in helping to develop its Emergency Medical Technician Program, and graduated from the initial class, serving the area as an E.M.T. for a number of years. Peggy's sense of humor and joyful approach to life were well-known, and people will remember her as a fun and compassionate person. She was famous for her rum cakes, often baking 50 or more to distribute at Christmas in response to requests from friends and relatives. Peggy loved animals, and had many throughout her life, particularly a horse named Stranger and a dog named Glory, and she was currently involved in Cascade Dock Dogs. She will be missed by many. Announcement of services will be forthcoming.

Tributes

Peggy Lambert

January 5, 1937 - January 27, 2011