Margaret Jane Kellogg Raftery, 92, passed away peacefully on February 26, 2025 in Dixon,
California. Born in Woodland in 1932, Margaret was a fourth generation Californian. Interesting to note she had deep American roots as a descendant of the 1622 Mayflower couple John Alden and Priscilla Mullins, John said to be the first person from the Mayflower to set foot on Plymouth Rock. Peggy married Joseph William Raftery in 1955, setting aside her career as an art teacher in Los Angeles to raise her family of 5 children in Dixon, where her husband was an attorney and Superior court judge. Her husband, Joseph, and son, Richard, preceding her in death, she is survived by four of her children: Fr. Paul Raftery, OP, Mary Raftery Metzger, Thomas Raftery, and Joseph Raftery; Three grandchildren: Eliot Metzger, Ian Metzger, and Megan Williams; and six great-grandchildren: Donovan, Jojo, Evander, Malia, Hudson and Eli.
Peggy never gave up her art career, a graduate of Immaculate Heart College she continued her painting, ceramics, life drawings, serigraphs, lithographs, and collages entering her works in shows and galleries throughout the state and earning numerous awards through the years. In the 1970’s she was an active member of the California Printmaker’s Society and ran her own professional studio in Dixon. Peggy later in life she returned to her favorite visual art, collage. Her last public art exhibit showcasing her collages was at the age of 82 at the International House in Davis. She self-published two art books: Collages from The Book Of Revelations, and 40 Collages Images of Hope Rosary Meditations. She said, “This is my way of giving a visual image to the very important words we read.” A sweet, generous soul and beloved Mother, we will miss her.
Peggy was a devout Catholic throughout her life, active in the Young Ladies Institute and other parish groups in Dixon and Davis. The funeral will be held at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 105 S 2nd St. in Dixon on Thursday March 6th. The Rosary will be at 9:30am, followed by the funeral Mass at10:00, and a small reception in the church hall. The burial will be at the Dixon Cemetery at 1:00pm.
