Margaret Jean Douglas

Margaret Jean (Carlson) Douglas

Margaret was born in Portland on April 11, 1927 and passed away recently at age 87. She was the youngest of three children of Henry and Ingeborg Carlson, Swedish immigrants who lived in the southeast Portland area. She was baptized at First Immanuel Lutheran Church where she maintained her membership until her death on February 16, 2015.

When Margaret was five years old, her parents took the family back to Sweden while America recovered from the Great Depression. They rented their Portland home until their return in 1933. In 1976 Margaret and her father made a return trip to Sweden.

Margaret graduated from Washington High School in 1946. Afterwards she attended Oregon State University, and Hasting Business College.

Margaret was married from 1954 through 1959. Her son Scott Arthur Douglas was born in 1958. After her marriage ended, she and Scott moved into her parents Mt. Tabor home where Henry and Inga helped to raise their grandchild. Throughout the years she was employed at various office jobs. Margaret volunteered at the Oregon Lung Association after her father passed away from lung cancer in 1977.

During her years at First Immanuel she helped with Sunday school, sang in choirs and choral groups, and participated in the Mary-Martha circle. Margaret’s God given talent for playing the piano by ‘by ear’ gave her years of enjoyment. Into her early adulthood she also enjoyed playing tennis and bowling.

For the past many years Margaret lived at Firwood Gardens assisted living residence in northeast Portland. While there, she attended Bible studies, played the piano, and went for daily walks until her mobility became a problem.  Margaret kept in touch with family and friends via letters, postcards, and telephone calls, but mostly … phone calls. She enjoyed updating people on the happenings of those she knew and loved.  The advent of the internet, emails, texts and especially Facebook was an annoyance for her because the new ‘news’ of the day was often already known by those she was speaking with.

Margaret’s brother Arthur was killed in WWII and her beloved sister Doris Reese passed away in 2012. She is survived by her son Scott and wife Mary, along with her grandchildren Erica and Andrea of Seattle, five nieces and nephews and numerous great nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, Margaret requested that donations be sent to First Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1816 NW Irving St, Portland, Oregon 97209. A memorial service will be held at First Immanuel L utheran church on Saturday March 21 ^st at 11:00 am.