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Margaret E. (Atkinson) Whiteside Crowley

Word has been received of the death of Margaret Elizabeth (Atkinson) Whiteside Crowley of Saranac Lake, who died Tuesday March 18, 2014 in Rochester.

Born the daughter of Mark and Margaret (Clifford) Atkinson her and raised in North Syracuse on June 1, 1930.

Margaret graduated from Convent High school in 1948. She received her bachelor’s degree in education from SUNY Oswego on Jan. 23, 1953, and received her master’s degree in education through SUNY Potsdam.

Margaret married Richard Whiteside on Nov. 26, 1953. She taught first grade in St. Regis school district in 1953 and moved to Schenectady to raise six children of her own while also substitute teaching.

In 1973, the family moved to Dexter to run a lumber yard until they moved to Rainbow Lake in 1979. Margaret then taught 1st grade at Lake Clear school for 10 years and continued to substitute teach after she retired from teaching in 1995. On Sept. 29, 2000 her first husband Richard passed away. Margaret then moved to Baldwinsville, where she met her second husband, Tom Crowley, they were married on July 31, 2004. Tom Crowley predeceased her on Oct. 29, 2010, after which she returned to Saranac Lake to live out the rest of her days. Margaret was also a volunteer at Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake.

Margaret is survived by her six children, Patricia and Steve Veselka of Cohoes, Thomas Whiteside of Owls Head, Deborah and Jeff Shullette of Dexter, John Whiteside and his wife Donna of Baldwinsville, Anne and Andy Geller of Pittsford, Susan McKillip of Rainbow Lake and Michael McKillip of Bloomingdale; her sister Joan Coyle and her husband Bernie; her brother Bernie and Carol Atkinson and sister-in-law Carmel Atkinson; stepchildren Dennis Crowley, Maureen Crowley Gieser, Sean Crowley, Shiela Crowley, Heather Crowley and Kelly Crowley Kennedy; and many nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and loving friends.

Margaret is predeceased by her parents, her brothers Cliff and Mark, and her husbands Richard Whiteside and Thomas Crowley.

A memorial Mass of Christian burial will take place at noon Wednesday, March 26 at St. Bernard’s Church, with the Rev. Mark Reilly officiating. Burial will take place in Sand Hill Cemetery.

Friends wishing to remember Margaret may make memorial contributions to the Adirondack Health Foundation in care of the funeral home. Family and friends can also share their memories and sign the online guest book at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.