Margaret Joyce (Stevens) Pearson

Margaret Joyce (Stevens) Pearson passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, after a long, meaningful and fulfilling life.

She was born in Ionia, Michigan in 1933 to Jessie and Cecil Stevens.  After living with her parents and brother (John Stevens) in East Lansing for a short time, Margaret’s family settled in Wacousta.   Margaret graduated from Grand Ledge High School and Michigan State University, with a degree in Elementary Education.

She married fellow Grand Ledge and MSU alum, William (Bill) Pearson, and they moved to Midland, Michigan, where they had 2 children, a daughter (Patricia) and a son (Steve), before moving to Flint, Michigan. The family eventually settled in Lansing, where Margaret taught elementary school in the Lansing Public Schools, a career which spanned 3 decades.  Margaret’s greatest professional accomplishment was helping to educate a generation of Lansing youth.  She was a member of Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority, where many lifelong friendships were established.

During her lifetime Margaret loved to travel.  When her children were young, the family took many camping trips in Michigan and across the United States and into Canada, visiting state and national parks, monuments and other attractions.  Margaret and Bill also later took several trips with friends to Aruba and the Bahamas, and thereafter Margaret traveled extensively both within and outside the United States.  Margaret’s trips abroad included accompanying her granddaughter to Italy and France and traveling with her son and his family to Italy and Greece.

Margaret also loved attending sporting events and the many school and other activities of her children and grandchildren, and she very much enjoyed entertaining her family, especially during the holidays.

During her retirement, Margaret spent many wonderful times with her children and grandchildren at her cottage in Allegan County.   She served as a volunteer in the gift shop at Sparrow Hospital and at Pilgrim Congregational Church in the children’s clothing closet.   She enjoyed attending exercise classes, walking with neighbors and Saturday coffee with her many friends.  She frequently attended plays and events at the Wharton Center.  She also was a season ticket holder to Lansing Civic Players and Spartan Basketball.  And with friends she attended many of the MSU Sweet Sixteen and Final Four college basketball tournament games.

Margaret is survived by her daughter, Patricia Lynn (Jeffrey) Watson, and her son, William Steven (Denise) Pearson; four grandchildren, Andrea (Jordan) Caplan, Alex (Taylor) Watson, David (Tanya) Pearson and Eric (Stephanie) Pearson; and five great grandchildren, Ayla and Amelia Caplan, Carter and Kennedy Watson, and Morrigan Pearson, who brought tremendous joy to her life.

The funeral for Margaret will be held 11:00 a.m., Monday, August 11, 2025, at the Wacousta Community United Methodist Church, 9180 Herbison Rd., Eagle, MI 48822. Visitation will be 3:00-5:00 p.m., Sunday, August 10, 2025, at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel, 325 W. Washtenaw St, Lansing, MI 48933, and also for one hour prior to the funeral on Monday at the church. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to: The Care Team Hospice, 5401 Gateway Center Blvd., Suite D, Flint, MI 48507, or Alzheimer’s Association