Peggy Haley (aka Millicent Margaret Morrison) died peacefully at Brandywine Senior Living at Longwood on August 12, 2016 after a long battle with Alzheimer's.  She was 84 year old.

She is survived by her favorite brother James Morrison; four daughters, Eileen Margaret Campbell and her husband Bob, Janet Lynn Bodkin, Diane Elizabeth Owen and Sally Ann Kelly; five grandchildren, Robert John Campbell, Andrew Colin Campbell, Jennifer Lynn Bean, Mark William Kelly and Katherine Ann Kelly; 4 great-grandchildren, Sasha Campbell, Kylie Campbell, Chase Campbell and Whitney Campbell.
Memorial donations in Peggy's name to the Alzheimer's Association may be made by accessing http://act.alz.org/site/TR?pxfid=358746&pg=fund&fr_id=1060 

A memorial service will be at 11:00AM on Saturday, August 27, 2016 at BETHLEHEM UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 4 Westtown Road, Thornton, PA.  A luncheon will follow the service in the church hall.  Burial will be private.

Life Story

Millicent Margaret Morrison, or Peggy as she was known by all who loved her was born on August 20, 1931 to the late Elizabeth Saddler and James Morrison in Philadelphia, PA.

Growing up she took piano lessons and also learned to play by ear which served her well as she played as an accompanist in church and other venues and started her lifelong love of music. She was active in her church youth group where she met a tight knit group of friends that she nurtured into enduring friendships through her whole life.

Through her mother’s Irish connections she met Albert Willis of Derrylin, Northern Ireland. They eloped on Aug 4, 1950 and soon started a family. While staying home to raise kids, Peggy also was bookkeeper for their family-owned business, Albert Willis Plumbing and Heating. Staying close to their Irish roots Peggy and Albert were active in the service groups Rebekahs, Loyal Order of the Banyan Tree and Odd Fellows Lodges and enjoyed rolling back the rug and hosting Irish dance parties in their home in Bryn Mawr, PA where she would play the piano accompanying her mother on the accordion. She also enjoyed hosting small get togethers to play cards.

Peggy saw her family through early tragedy with the death of their only son and youngest child William Albert to Leukemia in the summer of 1974. It was devastating to the entire family but she remained a positive role model for her children always upbeat, cheerful and loving.

In the early 1970s she found barbershop music and the Valley Forge Sweet Adelines Chorus which shaped her social life for more than 15 years. Through this championship chorus she was able to travel around the country and even to England for competitions and finally in 1983 won the International championship in Detroit, Michigan. She passed this love of music on to all her children encouraging each with piano and other music lessons.

Tragedy struck again in 1986 when her husband suffered a stroke that left him in a wheelchair and with limited speech. Still Peggy remained committed and cared for him fulltime until his death in early 1991.

Peggy went back to work once her kids were no longer babies. Her most recent positions were with Geometric Data and GlaxoSmithkline where she was executive secretary to a vice president and in the early 1980s she was excited to be the first group of staff to get a Wang data processor—the computer age was here. She enjoyed hosting her co-workers for summer pool parties at her home in Gradyville, PA. Peggy also enjoyed sewing, gardening, jigsaw and crossword puzzles, generally any social event and of course helping her children and grandchildren whenever needed.

After she retired she remained busy with volunteer work with her church and the American Cancer Society as a driver for cancer patients. It was through this service that she met her second husband, Don Haley. They were married in September, 22 2001 and spent the next nearly 10 years in an extended honeymoon until he died in May 2010.

When it became apparent that she could no longer live on her own Peggy again protected her children by setting herself up with the ability to move to an assisted living facility. When trying to find the best care facility for her it was easy to say whole heartedly "we know she's our mother but that aside, she really would be the best resident you could ever ask for." Brandywine Senior Living at Longwood was an excellent fit. The staff was loving, caring, encouraging and creative, giving her opportunity to play concerts in the lobby and outdoors in the courtyard for other residents as long as she was able. Even though in the past years with Alzheimer’s she lost her physical and mental abilities, her genuine loving personality shined through right to the end. She touched many lives and we will all miss her deeply.

Even though in the past years with Alzheimer’s she lost her physical and mental abilities, her genuine loving personality shined through right to the end.  She touched many lives and we will all miss her deeply. 

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