Margaret S. Rayburn, 86, long-time Yakima Valley and Grandview resident, passed away Tuesday, May 14, 2013. Margaret was born April 5, 1927 in North Powder, Oregon, the daughter of Johnathan Alexander and Pearl Laurel (Wicks) Shaw. Margaret's early years were spent on the family ranch helping her parents with livestock, wheat harvest and haying as well as cooking for numerous ranch hands. She attended a one-room school house and went to school either riding her horse or riding in a sleigh during the winter. Margaret graduated from North Powder High School in 1945; and attended Eastern Oregon College (EOU) in La Grande, OR. Being a true farm girl she earned her own college tuition by raising belted hogs. It was at Eastern Oregon College where she met her future husband, Glenn Rayburn. Margaret and Glenn were united in marriage July 19, 1946 in Seattle, WA. Margaret and Glenn transferred to Eastern Washington College of Education (EWU) in the fall of 1946; earning their Bachelor of Arts in Education degrees. Margaret and Glenn moved to Richland, WA, taking their first teaching positions prior to moving to Grandview, WA, in 1949 to teach. Margaret taught every elementary grade except kindergarten in the Grandview School District, often having 35 or more students in a class. She retired from teaching in 1984 and shortly after entered into an active political career. Margaret was elected by the citizens of the 15th Legislative District to represent them as a state representative to the Washington State Legislature in 1985. Margaret was fair minded and an even-handed legislator who could work with others in order to bring a better life to the people of her legislative district. Over the years Margaret would remind her grandchildren how being elected and serving as a legislator was a privilege, not a right, and how once granted, by the citizenry, one should strive to serve with best intentions for all. Margaret was the first woman Democrat to serve the 15th Legislative District. Margaret served from 1985 until her legislative retirement in 1995. Margaret's state service included, Chair of the Washington State Agriculture and Rural Development Committee and as a member of the House Education Committee. She sponsored numerous bills which benefited Yakima Valley agriculture and improved the lives of valley residents. Following her retirement as a legislator, Margaret involved herself in community service. She served on local Hospice and hospital boards and Friends of the Library. For many years, Margaret worked with the "Dollars for Scholars" foundation, a charitable organization offering college scholarship money to Lower Yakima Valley students. Margaret enjoyed her active membership with the Sunnyside Presbyterian Church, engaging in a variety of classes and activities. She took pleasure getting together with long-time friends and neighbors for dinner, knitting, book clubs, and numerous social circles. As a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Margaret delighted in the lives of her children. Grandchildren include, Elizabeth Wycoff (Tim), Amelia Fiduccia (James), Matthew Ahlbeck (Elisa) and Samuel Ahlbeck. Step grandchildren include, Erik, Ross (Nicole) and Seth (Brittany) Monson. Great-grandchildren include, Jane and Andrew Wycoff, Titus Ahlbeck, and Chase Monson. Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Glenn in 2005. She is survived by her children, Jeff Rayburn (Liz) and Mary Ahlbeck (Jay) and two sisters, Patricia Anne Lewis and Merrie Jacqueline Zimmerman.

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