Margaret Brass, 84, passed away at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center on November 11, 2010. Her pleasant smile, happy nature and friendly way will be missed by those that knew and loved her.
Margaret was born in Philipsburg MT to Margaret Traynor Dwyer and William R. Dwyer on July 19, 1926. Margaret was the second of five children.
Margaret spent most of her life in Helena. She attended school in Helena. The family moved to Vancouver, WA her senior year & graduated from high school there. After graduation the family moved back to Helena and she worked as a manager at F.W. Woolworth. She married Joe W. Downs Jr. in 1943. They were married for 42 years and were blessed with two children, Dennis in 1946 and Peggy Jo in 1947 and. They moved to California in 1964. While raising her family she worked with Cub Scouts, Brownies, taught Sunday school and Bible School at the Baptist Church in Helena. She was preceded in death by husband, Joe in 1986 and her son, Dennis Downs in 1978. Returning to Helena in 1990 she established contact with Bill Brass, her high school sweetheart, and they were married in 1994. They resided in their Lakeside residence, near Glacier Park, for 16 years. Her husband survives Margaret in the family home in Lakeside.
She is also preceded in death by her parents William and Margaret Dwyer, and a brother, Billy Dwyer.
She loved paintings and enjoyed creating art on her own. She was a master at crocheting beautiful heirloom dolls and handiwork, She was an avid reader, watched several sports on TV. She never missed a tennis match, or figure skating. She tried several craft projects such as needle work and ribbon embroidery. She was an ardent fan of the San Francisco 49ers. She loved spending time with her family and spoiling her dog, Shadow.
In her working career she was a supervisor at Woolworths, and Executive Secretary at the Girl Scout Office in Helena. She worked at the Assessor’s Office prior to moving to California in 1964. She retired in 1990 from FMC, after working there for 10 years.
Margaret is survived by her husband, Bill in Lakeside and her daughter Peggy Jo Downs of San Jose California and step-children, Mary Granger and Bill Brass Jr. of Lakeside, and her daughter-in-law, Sandy Parkerson of Texas. Margaret is also survived by five grandchildren, Jeremy Strohmeier-Downs, Danielle Wycough, Danny Downs, Billy and Andrea Brass and 5 great-grandchildren. .She is survived by two sisters, Shirley Fischer (Eugene), Mary Warren (Bernard) and brother Jack Dwyer (Betty) all of Helena. She has numerous nephews and nieces.