Margaret Marshall Darsie Carter as she was known as “Peggy” passed peacefully on Feb. 19 at 8 a.m. at the home of her youngest son, William Carter and his wife, Marcea, in Charlotte, N.C.

She was 93 years young. She had been a part time resident of New Zealand, loved Golden Bay, and her home in Pakawau since first visiting New Zealand in 1997. The rest of the year she lived in Tryon. Peggy leaves her three sons, Landon and his wife, Diane, Terry and his wife, Benta, and William and his wife, Marcea; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Born in Baltimore, Md. on Sept. 20, 1919, Peggy lived a privileged life of private schools, debutante parties, world travel, fox hunting and horseback riding. She was passionate about horses and fox hunted all her life.

She and her late husband, George, had their own hounds and registered hunt in the U.S. She was a strong proponent of not killing any of the foxes they chased and she would always whip off the hounds before a kill.

She continued to ride and love horses until she was 90. A fox hunting accident where she injured her hip curtailed her equestrian activities.

She had many passions that she wrote about, taught and donated to help make the world a better place. She wanted to do all she could to eliminate prejudice between people. She was an outspoken advocate of recycling and protecting the environment. She loved all animals, but especially horses and cats. Peggy is the original animal whisperer who had numerous experiences of cats and horses communicating with her. She wrote articles in local newspapers and she walked her talk, showing people how to care for each other, take care of animals and she encouraged people to wake up, urging them to “Save the planet” whenever anyone would listen.

Throughout her life she helped many young people in a variety of ways. She was a consummate teacher, always educating anyone who was open to new concepts or behaviors. There are scattered people throughout the world, of all ages, who will remember their conversation with Peggy, “The Story Lady,” who never tired of sharing, caring and helping someone grow.

She was a strong willed woman who never gave up, and was never sick in more than 50 years, claiming she didn’t have time for it! She said she has always been happy and even wondered over the years why she was so fortunate to have such a wonderful, fulfilling and happy life. Before she passed she was looking forward to passing over to the other side so she could learn more about her past lives and the lessons she was here to learn this lifetime. She was looking forward to seeing George Carter, the love of her life, who passed away in 1996.

Since she first took a course on world religions in the 1950s, she always believed that at their core, all religions were based on the same tenants to live by, an expression of love. It was a constant enigma to her that the leaders of our world could not resolve their differences and create a sustainable world that worked for everyone.

Peggy has been a devotee of Satya Sai Baba since 1972 when she first met him in India when visiting her son, Landon, who was studying and meditating there. She was looking forward to reincarnating, hopefully close to the place and time when Sai Baba will reincarnate.

Maybe we will meet her again…

In the meantime, she will certainly be missed.