Margaret Russell

Margaret “Peggy” Edith (Besemer) Craft Russell,89, widow of Robert Chaples Russell, died July 28, 2023 at her home. She was born May 3, 1934 at Slaterville Springs, New York, the first child of William Max Besemer and Rena Doyle Besemer. Always a lover of learning, she thrived at school as a child and youth, attended Dutchess Community College in Poughkeepsie, New York, and thereafter never stopped educating herself. She was married in 1951 to Herbert Craft, with whom she had four children. They divorced in 1960. She moved to Maine in 1978, and in 1984 married Robert Russell, sharing twenty-nine happy years with him before his death in 2013.

Writing was Peggy’s lifelong passion. She wrote this obituary. She worked as a reporter for the daily Poughkeepsie Journal, wrote columns for two weeklies after moving to Maine, produced several monthly newsletters, and published numerous articles, poems, prayers, and liturgies. Always interested in politics, during her Poughkeepsie years she co-chaired the Mid-Hudson Council for New Politics with poet, Peter Kane DuFault, and worked in his1968 state senatorial campaign.

Peggy was an initiate of the Henge of Keltria and had served on its board of trustees and as a mentor in its correspondence course. She organized its annual gathering in 2009 and was a frequent contributor to its quarterly publication.

In addition to her husband, Peggy was pre-deceased by a son, Lawrence Frederick Craft, two sisters, Martha Gill and Thelma Merritt, and grandson Rashid Young .She is survived by six children and stepchildren; Roger Craft of Levant, Karen Trask of Portland, Tennessee, Margaret Young of Poughkeepsie, New York, Edward Russell of Winterport, William Russell and Hillary of Haddam, Connecticut, David Russell of Bangor, grandchildren and step-grandchildren: Tara Twyman, Sara DuVal, Jared Chapman, Abigail Russell, Adam Russell, Emerald Russell Forcier, Christopher Russell, Jasmine Craddock and Caitlin Palmieri; great-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren: Keane Curtis, Isaiah Twyman, DeAngelie Cotto, Mya DuVal, Samantha Chapman, James Chapman, Aven Craddock, Rowan Craddock, Iris Craddock, Eli Palmieri, Orion Palmieri, Lyla Palmieri, Maisie Forcier , Miles Forcier and Zyler Ammons; great-great grandchild Miles DuVal and special friends Phillip and David Ulrich.

There will be a celebration of Peggy’s life on August 12, 2023 from Noon to 2 pm at the Bangor Area Recovery Network (B.A.R.N.), 142 Center Street, Brewer, Maine. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Peggy’s name to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tenn 38105 or to UNICEF USA, 125 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.