Margaret (Smith) Chilton |
| Posted 2008-12-17 by Judy Wight Branson |
| The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona Wednesday, February 1, 2006 Margaret Smith Chilton was born in Morenci, Arizona on September 22, 1917 and passed away on January 28, 2006 in Tucson. She lived her entire 88 years in her native Arizona. She graduated from the Morenci schools and then from Northern Arizona University in 1956. While at Northern Arizona University she met James Kenneth Chilton, Sr. and married him on March 26, 1937. She and Ken built their life together on farms and ranches in Arizona including family operations in Tempe, Chandler, Queen Creek, Camp Verde, and the Laurel Leaf ranch west of Clarkdale and Jerome. She and Ken joined the Arizona Cattle Growers' Association in 1946 and Margaret became a member of the Arizona Cowbelles. After selling the Laurel Leaf Ranch and the 7+A Ranch (Upper Eagle Creek), she and Ken purchased the Diamond Bell cattle ranch with their sons Jim and Tom in 1979. Margaret lived on the Diamond Bell until her passing. She is survived by her husband of 69 years, a daughter Ruth Ann Pfleider of Green Valley, Ariz. and sons Thomas Benjamin Chilton, his wife Kathy, and James Kenneth Chilton, Jr. and his wife Sue, who all reside on or near the ranch. She was blessed with eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Prior to returning to college, she raised her children and assisted her husband in his farming and ranching career. After earning her teacher's credential, she taught school in the two-room Beaver Creek Elementary School near Camp Verde, together with her husband who was the administrator and upper grade teacher. Ken and Margaret again taught school together in Camp Verde near their cattle ranch. After purchasing a larger ranch west of Clarkdale, she completed her 20-year teaching career in Clarkdale. As a rancher's wife and educator, she valued education and was proud of the fact that her three children became college graduates while she nurtured hundreds of other children in her classes. Upon retirement she continued to contribute to the family ranching operations and expressed her creative talent by becoming a serious artist. A memorial service will be announced and contributions in lieu of flowers can be made to the Arizona Cattle Growers' Association, 1401 N. 24TH St. #4, Phoenix, Ariz., 85008. |
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