Peggy Jane De Cuir

Aug. 4, 1923 – June 23, 2012

Peggy Jane De Cuir, age 88, passed away peacefully at home in Bakersfield, Calif., on June 23, 2012. She is survived by her husband, Warren; and their son, Dennis DeCuir, his wife, Dianne and their two daughters; and by their daughter, Marion Vargas, her husband, Rogelio and their three children; and their five great-grandchildren.

Born Evelyn Jane “Peggy” Fluke to Heath E. Fluke and Nora Zella Glenn on Aug. 4, 1923, in Crawford, Colo., she attended elementary schools in Colorado before moving to Sacramento in the eighth grade. There she attended Junior High School, Sacramento High School and Sacramento City College. Peggy met Warren, the love of her life, through a mutual friend in Sacramento. They married on Oct. 11, 1942, in Long Beach, Calif., where Warren was stationed during World War II.

Following the end of the war and Warren’s discharge from the Air Force, Peggy and Warren moved to Sacramento where they built homes with the help of Warren’s brothers and friends. They shared a love for growing vegetables and raising chickens while South Sacramento was still rural. After working at the DMV and State Personnel Board, Peggy became a full time homemaker dedicated to raising her children and helping out at their school. To help save for their children’s college education, she returned to work as a secretary at Freeport Elementary School in Sacramento, where she remained for 21 years, and then at the District Summer School Office until retirement in 1978, when she and Warren moved Placerville.

They built two more homes in Placerville and Peggy especially enjoyed the activities of lay ministry and the community of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, square dancing and china painting. She continued to excel at home making arts and staying in contact with and providing nurturing care for her growing family and family of friends. Throughout her life, she tried always to treat others the way she would have liked to be treated.

In 2003, Peggy and Warren moved to Bakersfield where they participated in family, church and community activities and continued to lovingly care for each other as they were confronted with health challenges, inspiring others with their love, dedication and positive outlook on life. Peggy enjoyed the warm and caring environment of the community of friends at Columbus Estates, where they resided in recent years.

Services will be held at 2 p.m., on Friday, June 29, at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, 6700 21st Avenue (at 65th St) in Sacramento, Calif., with a Catholic Mass of Christian Burial in the mausoleum chapel, followed by a graveside service.