Murphys, CA…Peggy Morris, April 17th, 1948 – February 17th, 2021. Peggy Marilyn Morris, 72, of Murphys, CA, passed away peacefully on February 17th, while at Stanford Hospital, due to complications from heart failure. As many who loved her were aware, Peggy was granted the gift of a new heart in 2013, from a donor whose family wishes to remain anonymous, and because of this gift her life was extended 7 years in which she was able to live each extra day full of joy and happiness.

“Through love, through friendship, a heart lives more than one life” -Anais Nin

Peggy was born April 17, 1948 to Joseph and Ina Pellizzer in Redwood City, CA. After graduating from San Carlos High School in 1966 she went on to study Social Science and Education at San Jose State University.

Peggy wed her husband of 52 years, Ron Morris, in 1968 and raised two boys – Kevin and Casey – and she filled their home in San Carlos, where she lived for over 30 years, with love, adventure, warmth, and kindness.

In 2003, Peggy and Ron moved to their dream home in Murphys, CA where she could be found tending to her vegetable gardens, playing with their Bernese Mountain dogs, picking lavender bundles, harvesting grapes from their small vineyard, and making chocolate truffles by the hundreds – she loved chocolate.

Peggy held many interesting careers in her working years and greatly contributed to the boys education and well-being. She worked in education as a substitute teacher, in government at City Halls in San Carlos and Woodside, CA, and in administration in the technology and biotech sectors. She loved swimming, her cats and dogs, cooking with her husband, watching her sons play soccer, and taking family vacations to Lake Tahoe and Mendocino.

She was a tremendously talented artist in the medium of weaving, including scarfs, hats, and tapestries, but she had a passion for creating pine needle baskets which won her numerous awards and accolades. She made friends everywhere she went, thought often about her old friends from the Bay Area, and found new friends and colleagues through her involvement in her community weavers guild, book club, dance groups, and working in the wine tasting rooms in Murphys. One of her favorite recent accomplishments was winning 4 medals while competing for Team NorCal in the 2016 Transplant Games of America.

She was loved by all who knew her and will be remembered as a free spirit, as a resilient fighter, as a creative individual, and for being an optimistic light of energy and positivity that was infectious to her friends, family, neighbors, doctors, nurses, and anyone who had a few minutes to spend with her.

In the last couple years of Peggy’s life she spent many hours in hospitals and clinics due to a routine of getting her blood drawn, infusion injections, and all sorts of screenings and testings. She embraced her ordeal courageously, without fear, and was an example for us all, knowing that each day after her transplant was a blessing.

Peggy was an amazing human being and we will miss her greatly. She is survived by Ron, Kevin (now in San Francisco) and Casey (now in Toronto), and by her loving sister Ruth, caring brother Wade, 3 nieces, a nephew, and all of their extended families whom she loved dearly. Because Peggy received her heart transplant in 2013, she was able to welcome her two grandchildren into the world – Teemu and Esme – and the memories she created with them will always be cherished.

The family requests that instead of flowers, donations can be made to one of the following organizations.

Donate Life – https://www.donatelife.net/

Calaveras County Animal Services – https://animal.calaverasgov.us/

Murphys Community Park – https://visitmurphys.com/about-murphys/murphys-community-club-and-park/