Peggy J. Kaley

Funeral services for Peggy J. Kaley, of Hugo, Okla., were held at 2 p.m. Sept. 14, 2021 at First United Methodist Church in Hugo. Peggy passed away Sept. 8, 2021, at the age of 83.

Peggy J. Kaley was born on Oct. 9, 1937, in Hugo, Okla., to Hermon M. And Erile “Bill” (Iglehart) Baggett. She was preceded in death by her parents; stepfather, Nixon “Hap” Nelson; husband, Orville W. Kaley and son, Charles Brian Kaley.

Peggy was born at the Johnson Hospital just above the then, Citizen’s Bank. She proudly graduated from Hugo High School with the class of 1955. During school she was a member of the National and Oklahoma Honor Society, President of the Drama Club, Basketball and Halloween Queen, Junior and Senior Class Secretary and a band member for seven years. She made many life-long friends in school and over the years, “the girls” have met in different cities for long weekends to catch up on each other’s lives and re-live their school days.

After high school Peggy attended Oklahoma A&M (now OSU) for two years, where on a blind date, she met the love of her life, Orville, a Yankee from Illinois. On Feb. 14, 1957, they eloped and were married in Shawnee, Okla. They kept their marriage secret for two weeks before telling anyone. After they married, they lived in Dallas, Missouri, Arizona and Illinois. In 1968 they decided to return to Hugo and raise their children: Marc, and Regina.

While growing up, her father, a businessman and civic leader, instilled in his children a love for Hugo. He said, “If you are going to live someplace, make it a better place to live.” Throughout her life she was active in the Jaycee Janes, Hugo Little Theatre, Mother’s Inter-Se, PEO, Chamber of Commerce, Hugo Library Board, First United Methodist bookkeeper and choir member, Hugo Bereavement Group, and many other organizations. She had a great love for God and enjoyed reading her Bible and Daily Devotional. She also enjoyed decorating her home, painting, crocheting, macrame, knitting, crossword puzzles, reading, and especially spending Christmas and other holidays with her family.

Over the years she was a bank clerk, administrative assistant, bookkeeper, legal secretary, real estate sales associate and owner/operator with her husband, of Portraits by Kaley. She put her all into each job she had, but the most rewarding job she ever had was when she went to work for Urban Renewal, which later became Community Development, a federally funded agency that was developed to make communities a better place to live. She started as bookkeeper and within four years she advanced and became the first female Director of Community Development in the state of Oklahoma. She and her staff were very instrumental in concreting Fifth, Eighth and Main Streets, along with many other housing and community improvement projects throughout Hugo. Peggy is survived by her son, Marc Edward

Peggy is survived by her son, Marc Edward Kaley and wife, Terrie of Hugo; daughter, Regina Pulliam and husband, Mark of Hugo; grandchildren: Dean Pulliam, Raymond Kaley, Krystal Hockett, Jacob Pulliam, Kaley Reich, Shady Prock; great-grandchildren: Kaleb, Madison, Mariann, Blaine, Jaydin, David, Danielle and Conner; one great-great-grandson, Astro-Lee; brother, Charles Baggett; her beloved dog, Oscar, along with numerous other family, friends and loved ones.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the First United Methodist Church.

Peggy was a faithful blood donor and would be honored if those who can give blood would.

Services were under the direction of Miller & Miller Funeral Home.

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