MAZEI, Margaret

Lamont Mortuary, Globe, Arizona 03/23/2010 Margaret Bufford Mazei, age 93, passed away on March 20, 2010. She was descended from ancestors who were among the first European families in New England, Quebec, Canada, Detroit, Michigan and Ohio. Margaret spent her childhood living in different communities in Michigan finally settling with her parents in Lincoln Park, Michigan, where she graduated in 1935 from Lincoln Park High School. She met the love of her life, her husband Louis L. Mazei there. Despite objections to the "wild Hungarian," Margaret was married on November 28, 1936. Together they had six children, Jo Anne Daniels (Dan) of Lambert , Mississippi, Leslie Johnson (Maurice, deceased) of Virginia, Elizabeth Mazei of Woodmere, NY, Louis G (Jerry). Mazei (Francisca Lorenia) of Menifee, California, Velma Jean (Twinkle), deceased (Tim deceased) and Dorothy Prestwich (Neil) of Lambert, Mississippi. Margaret moved with her husband and family to Miami in August, 1951, where she raised her family. As a strong proponent of education she insisted that all of her children graduate from high school. Hence, all of her children and many of her grandchildren graduated from Miami High School. She supported her husband as Boy Scoutmaster of Troop 7 in the 1950's and 1960's, which meant opening up her house and heart to many of these boys. Margaret was also active, alongside her husband, with the Gila County Democratic Central Committee. She was a frequent attendee at the Miami Town Council meetings for many years, both covering it for the Arizona Daily Star and later, to stay informed. She never lost her interest in local politics, feeling it was her duty to help to improve her community. This prompted her to volunteer with the Gila Community Food Bank for many years and to also volunteer in Miami Public Schools by reading poetry, in the hopes of encouraging children to enjoy the literary arts. Margaret was a talented writer. She was a correspondent for the Arizona Daily Star in the 1960's and 1970's, and had freelance articles in Phoenix Gazette during the same period. She was a published poet, winning several awards, and wrote several small books that she self-published. She was an active member of the Word Weavers Poetry group, even serving as president for several years. To her, words were a thing of joy. Her children and grand children will remember her as a fastidious housekeeper and as a good cook. She used to begin baking Christmas cookies after Thanksgiving and the aroma greeted her children and grandchildren when they climbed the 24 steps from the street to the house above the old high school, where she lived for 41 years before moving to her current home. Her proudest claim was that she really put effort into doing a good job as a wife and mother. She would say that she set her own standard for integrity and tried to live up to it. She had a constant stream of her children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews visiting her throughout the years. This constant visitation continued up to her death. She died with several of her family members around her. Margaret gave unconditional love to her family members and she will be greatly missed. She has left behind five children, 22 grandchildren, numerous great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren. The visitation will be held March 28 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church at 1:00 pm followed by the service at 2:00 pm. The interment will follow at Pinal Cemetery in Central Heights, AZ.