Margaret “Peg” Boehm

Grand Ledge

Margaret “Peg” Ayres was born June 23, 1923, at home at 525 Westmoreland in Lansing, Michigan, to Bessie (Temple) and Leon B. Ayres.  She died peacefully on Monday, May 6, 2024, with family at her side at Hospice of Lansing’s Stoneleigh facility. She was the youngest of four children.

She attended Lansing Public Schools and graduated from Lansing Central High School (which long ago became part of the Lansing Community College campus).  Peg spent many summers in the Upper Peninsula as a child because her father suffered greatly from hay fever.  This was before the advent of antihistamines, so the family traveled north to escape the pollen.  The Ayres family built a cottage on Brevort Lake in 1925 and Peg spent time there every summer for 98 years. Peg enjoyed figure skating very much.  She started skating at 5 years old wearing her shoes inside her older sister, Lois’s, skates.   A man observing her told her dad “That girl has talent and deserves her own skates!”  She continued her skating career and met her future husband, amateur photographer, Neulon Edward “Ed” Boehm when he was asked to take pictures of her at a rink in Sault Saint Marie, Michigan, circa 1940.  There was a mutual attraction, and they were married February 18, 1943 at Jefferson Army Barracks in St. Louis, Missouri, while Ed was stationed there as Captain in the Army Air Corps, precursor to the Air Force.  They were transferred to the Army Air Force, Overseas Replacement Depot Headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina, where their first child, Carol Lee, was born February 10, 1945.  Following the end of the war, the family returned to Lansing where Ed began his career in real estate with Standard Realty, owned by Peg’s father, later buying the company.  Peg was a full-time mom.  She often said her family was the joy of her life.  She was involved in the Junior League of Lansing and she and Ed were founding members of the Lansing Towne Club.  They enjoyed getting together for social dances and made many longtime friends.  They were longtime members of Bethel Baptist Church where Peg sang in the choir.  She also sang for many years with the Lansing Matinee Musicale. Their second child, Kathleen Margaret was born August 29, 1948, in Lansing.  She was born with a congenital heart defect and passed away just shy of her 4^th birthday leaving a very big hole in the family. Their third child, Edward Leon was born in Lansing on August 4, 1951.  Robert Temple was a “surprise baby” born November 21, 1955. Followed by yet another “surprise,” Steven Norman was born January 21, 1962.  Mom says dad remarked when she shared the news of yet another surprise “Well, I think this will be FUN!”  That says a lot about their outlook on life. Peg and Ed loved being outside and in 1968 purchased an 1886 farmhouse on 40 acres (the Farm) on Willow Highway.  She lived there until earlier this year.  Peg and Ed hosted many walking and cross-country skiing get togethers over the years.  Once her family was raised, she served on the Delta Township Parks and Recreation Commission and was chairwoman in 1979. Peg and Ed enjoyed years of boating on the Great Lakes and took their boat from Lake Huron to Florida and the Bahamas by way of the Intracoastal Waterway on the east coast.  Following their boating adventures, they enjoyed “land yachts” aka motorhomes and traveled extensively in the lower 48 states, Nova Scotia, and all the way to Alaska. When Peg and Ed were no longer able to travel, Ed purchased a golf cart for Peg’s 80^th birthday which they enjoyed riding on the many trails on the Farm.

You don’t live for a century without experiencing some loss, and Peg dealt with some tremendous losses.  In addition to losing her second child, Kathy, at a young age, she lost her husband of 65 years in 2008.  In 2016 she lost her oldest son, Ed, to ALS, followed just 7 months later with the sudden loss of her daughter, Carol Scribner, who died from an aortic aneurysm.  Through it all, Peg’s faith in God and hope for the future remained strong. Through over a century of living she offered these words of wisdom: “There’s always a moment of joy in every single day, even on the hard ones.  You just have to look a bit harder.”  “It’s not what life throws at you, it’s how you catch it!” “Growing old is not for sissies.” “Take care of yourself, try new things, see new places and never stop learning!” It was a blessing she lived long enough to meet her youngest great-granddaughter, Ellie Joyce Boehm, born in April of 2023, a mere 100 years apart! She saw many changes over her lifetime, but for the last 98 years, her time at the Cabin on Brevort Lake, and since 1968, living at the farm, have been constant and her favorite places to be.

She was predeceased by her siblings, Betty Ayres, Lois Bowser, Robert Ayres; her daughter, Kathy; husband, Ed; son, Ed (Pat); and daughter, Carol Scribner. She is survived by daughter-in-law, Pat; sons, Bob (Tana) and Steve; grandchildren, Amy Scribner, John (Corie) Scribner, Dr. Melissa Brown, Barbara (Randy) Schafer, Liz (Nick) Hund, Brian (Courtney) Boehm; step-grandchildren, Julius, Kelsey, Frank; 13 great-grandchildren; and several beloved nieces and nephews. The family sends deepest thanks to dear friend Rhonda Rains, the staff at Regency West, and the staff at Hospice of Lansing, Stoneleigh for the loving care they provided.

A celebration of Peg’s life will be held on Monday, May 20, 2024, at the Wacousta Community United Methodist Church, 9180 Herbison Road, Eagle, Michigan, with Rev. YooJin Kim, and Rev. Dr. James E. Robinson (retired Bethel Baptist Church minister) officiating.  Visitation will start at 9:30 a.m. with the service commencing at 11:00 a.m.  A luncheon provided by the church will be served immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Margaret “Peg” Boehm may be made to Bethel Baptist Church, 810 Edgemont Blvd., Lansing, MI 48917, or Delta Township Parks, 7710 West Saginaw Hwy., Lansing, MI 48917, or Hospice of Lansing, Stoneleigh Residence, 3186 Pine Tree Rd., Lansing, MI 48911.

Arrangements by the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel.

According to Peg’s wishes cremation has taken place.