This week I received the news. an old friend, a young friend, has passed away. Margaret and I became friends in Corpus Christi and she quickly became part of our posse. Milena, Tiana, Cheryl, Margaret and I were a tight pack back in the mid 90's. we all decided to shave our heads and started a faux gang of tough girls living in a neighborhood where we were the minority. Margaret was the youngest, and the most alluring of us all. she was a nanny, loved children and loved boys. she shot pool, danced and drank like a sailor.
when I was accepted to PNCA in Portland Oregon I asked her to move with me. I thought a change would be good for her. she talked about starting school as well. so we traveled together with less than $1000 to start a new life on the West Coast.
as I started school and got a boyfriend, Margaret was bored, and idolized the cool skinny culture of Heroin users so proliferate in Portland. they looked like Waif's and started cool trends in music and fashion. We were room-mates for a while, then grew apart. she went down a path that I could not follow. I stayed in school and later moved to Seattle. Margaret remained in Portland where life for her took a turn. A tumultuous road to say the least.
Last Monday 8-18-08 Margaret died from an overdose. Over ten years since she chose that risky path. but within that decade + she battled endlessly with the addicts life. she died with 2 young children, 1 year and 2 months old.
the last time I saw her was in 2002, and she was ecstatic that she had finally quite drugs, mostly, but had everything under control. Unfortunately her boyfriend was still using. I wrote, called and searched for her after that, but couldn't ever get in touch with her again. too bad, too bad.
so long young life
Hi Liz ... I knew Margaret when she lived in Corpus Christi. She was a regular at many of the underground rock shows that I played at or went to. The news of her passing is shocking to say the least as she was at least four years younger than me.
ReplyDeleteI can't seem to locate an obituary or news notice for her. Do you have a link for such an item? If so, can you post it on your blog?
i also new Margaret. For a small pocket in time in C.C.(years ago). Margaret, Tawnya, Tara, a few others and myself were bad/fun time girls in the local music scene. We had great times and i have fun memories of us all going on road trips to Austin and enjoying live music.
ReplyDeletei've often wondered where and how Margaret was doing. Once she moved away we never heard from her again. She was a beautiful girl and everyone enjoyed her company.
i know there are many people who will miss her. i hope the best for her children and her family. i'm so sorry for this loss. Good-bye pretty girl.
Margaret was my wife's sister, and I only got to meet her once. As a result of her addiction, things were strained between her and my wife, as well as other members of the family. We managed to get her to come to our wedding, and have always hoped that someday she would get clean and come back regularly into the lives of her family. I was shocked, but also not shocked, to hear of her passing. I guess I always knew that it could happen to her, but you never think it will actually happen to someone you know. And I am so sorry for her two boys.
ReplyDeleteAs far as an obituary, one has not been printed yet. Her father is working on one and I believe it will run in the Corpus Christi Caller-Times at some point, but this has hit him very hard and is difficult task.
I'm sorry I didn't get to know her better, and that she is now lost to the two little boys that I'm sure she loved very much.
I am so saddened to hear this horrible news. I knew Margaret way back in the early 90's in Corpus Christi.
ReplyDeleteI had fallen out of touch with her years ago and I often wondered what she was up to.
She was the first friend I made when I moved to Corpus. I was a hopelessly shy and nervous teenager, so I was amazed when Margaret went out of her way to befriend me and show me around the city, take me to shows, lend me records, etc......she was gorgeous, and probably the coolest girl in town.
She opened my eyes to so many things and introduced me to so many life-changing bands, I owe her the biggest debt.
Her parents and sisters also treated me like family....I am so sorry for their loss.
just a simple thank you to those who have visited this post and left their loving mark.
ReplyDeleteso sad, i've known margaret since the 7th grade. we used to hang out at the ditch on caramel pkwy and wallbangers. i know her sisters well too. very sad for the babies:(
ReplyDeletemyspace.com/sweetgir76beth
so sad, i've known margaret since the 7th grade. we used to hang out at the ditch on caramel pkwy and wallbangers. i know her sisters well too. very sad for the babies:(
ReplyDeletemyspace.com/sweetgir76beth
I also hung out in that same ditch with Margaret so long ago in Corpus. She was mainly friends with my sister Katie, and i idolized them both. Her sister, Erin, (who was sort of a wallflower like myself) and i were friends as well. Margaret frequently came to our house, or, as my mom called it, home to all the "lost children of the universe." Margaret was so beautiful and wild, a free spirit but always graceful and funny at the same time. One night, she jumped off my roof and hit her chin on her knee when she landed on the ground, leaving a huge bruise on her chin. Bruise and all, she was still stunningly beautiful! I have often wondered about her over the years and would like to see a picture of her from more recent times. If anyone has some, could you post or e-mail me? whurlz1@hotmail.com....
ReplyDeletealso, Erin, if you would like to get in touch with me, i would love to talk and hear how you are. I have also recently lost a young family member to drugs and know the immense pain it brings. Much love to Margaret and all those who loved her.
Here is the most recent pic we have of Margaret from our wedding. She's with her sister Erin. It's from 2003. You'll have to cut and paste- can't figure out the html to link it.
ReplyDeletehttp://i35.tinypic.com/2d10jrt.jpg
An obit should be coming soon, but there is a funeral mass that will be celebrated at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Corpus Christi, Texas on Saturday, September 27, 2008, at 11:00am. There will be a reception in the parish hall afterwards.
I met Margaret in Austin, Tx. where she was a close friend of my roomates girlfriend and sister. I last saw her at their wedding in Corpus. I'm so sorry to all her friends and family, I had always hoped the best for her, she was a really special person. I'm heartbroken for her sons who have lost their mom.
ReplyDeleteOur family was so saddened to hear about Margaret. Margaret was a caregiver for our son at his pre-school in Beaverton and would nanny for us as needed. Ironically/cosmically we were just talking about Margaret at the dinner table on Monday night....I can't remember the last time we mentioned her! Then this morning I saw her obit in the paper. It breaks my heart...what a sweet spirit she was and had so much love for children.
ReplyDeleteNow with three boys of my own, I am heartbroken that her boys will not have her to grow up with.
Our thoughts go out to all those affected by her loss. I realized that she had 'demons', but I did not know the extent of it and I am sorry that they won!
Gina
Two obituaries for Margaret:
ReplyDeleteOregeon Live
Corpus Christi Caller-Times
i first met margaret when i first moved to CC. in 1986. we went to St. Patrick's School 5th/6th grade. she was my first crush and little girlfriend, it was totally innocent and super cute. we'd write each others names on our converse stating our love for one another. i remember holding hands with her for the first time thinking how it was the coolest thing ever... we would go to mass and pass notes between the nuns, cruise the playground playing tag-- "boys against girls" and all that. :) my new crew i hung out with were neighborhood boys: micheal blosser, josh smith, kelly macintruff, jason zamora, brian lambert, and zak schmitt, just to name a few. i know several of them had crushes on her too. in those days, we would ride bikes around, go to her house that was filled with her sisters and play basketball without a care in the world. her family was always very welcoming to all of us. i lost touch with her when we all started jr.high school and seperated. every now and then i would see her out and about in CC. up until my junior year at carroll high school. to be totally honest, when ever i did see her, she would still give me those butterflies we are all familar with. she just had a smile that could do that to you. my love, respect, and prayers go out to all the people who love her. she will be greatly missed.
ReplyDeletemark bueno denver, co.
Wow
ReplyDeleteLiz this is Joe Walters. I heard the news today.. Quite late I know. I am very saddened and wish to send my love to all of the Mahoney's.
Margaret was a very special girl and the thought of her smile always warms my heart. We shared many good times together and I care for her very much.
I hadn't seen her in 10 years but we occasionally exchanged letters.
I don't know what to say. I am sorry to hear that life took a desperate path and hope that her children are well taken care of and carry the same spark that she did.
Shine on
Joe
hi,Liz. Thanks for all your support.Margaret was an amazing woman,friend,sister.It is hard not having her with us. Monica B. and I will both be in PDX June 6-10 visiting her boys. Would love to hear from you.
ReplyDeleteem
erinmahoneyart.com
I thought about not posting a comment here. I left Corpus to get away from a life of drugs, and Margaret was a friend of mine. I recently got in touch with Julia, who I'm happy to hear, is clean and sober now. Margaret had an awesome, larger-than-life attitude in everything she did. I was lucky to have known her, and saddened by the fact that she lost the battle. My heart and love goes out to her family and friends who struggle with her loss. This was an excellent idea Liz, thanks for the oppurtunity...H.Crain
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