St. George, Utah – Margaret Lynn Halverson Sinnott passed away Saturday, August 26, 2023, at the age of 78.

She was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Margaret Mae Curtis Halverson and Clarence Faville Halverson. At the age of 10, Margy and her family left the familiarity, comfort, and safety of Minnesota, jumped in a converted school bus, and moved to Chugiak, Alaska—objectively the edge of the Last Frontier. Life in Alaska brought inconvenience and hardship, but it also brought grit, a reverence for nature and beauty, and a love of fun and adventure.

Margy attended East Anchorage High School and the University of Alaska, Fairbanks where she met and married Michael Wescott Sinnott, a southern California transplant, on August 22, 1970.  He was attracted to her moxie, cute smile, and fun spirit. She was drawn to his goodness, dry wit, and intelligence. They were the devoted parents of one daughter, Gail Susan Sinnott Jensen. Margy and Mike were best friends separated by Mike's death in 2008. Margy and Gail were always best friends but especially for the next 15 years.

Margy was an advocate of education and a voracious reader, instilling a love for both in her daughter. She set the ultimate example by returning to college while Gail was in high school. She graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage at the age of 40 with a B.A. in Psychology.

Margy worked for the Federal Government for many years in many different capacities. Her last and longest position was at the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service where she worked for 15 years and became an early adopter of the internet. She loved to research and make presentations for her office on safety, wildlife, and history.  She loved finding and sharing things of beauty with her family and friends on Facebook. She was also a storyteller. She would talk to anyone who would listen as she told of her love for Alaska and her tales of growing up. And she loved music—all kinds--and when she and her family moved to the Bay Area in the late seventies, she was able to see many of her favorite folk singers and classical artists live in concert.

Margy loved to be outdoors, to ride her bike, and to downhill ski. She was willing to try anything. After 47 years of living in Alaska, in 2003 Margy and Mike moved to St. George, Utah, to be near their only child and their six grandkids. Then, after only 4 years in St. George, Mike passed away, leaving Margy to experience her last adventures alone for 15 years.  She continued to push forward enjoying visiting with her sisters whenever possible, going to lunch weekly with Gail, spending time with grandkids, playing games at Sun River, and scootering around her neighborhood.

Mom was generous and loving but could also be a spitfire when she felt the occasion called for it. She was passionate about the use of life jackets, helmets, seat belts, etc., and never hesitated to make her concerns known when she noticed people without them, stranger or not. She had a tough exterior but was cute and funny and good-hearted when you got to know her. We consider it an incredible blessing to have had her so close to us these last few years. She will be dearly missed.

Margy is survived by her only daughter Gail Jensen and her favorite son-in-law Robert; and her six grandchildren: Amy, Maggie, Matthew, Katie, Nathan, and Bentley. She is also survived by siblings: Kathleen Halverson, Diana Nentwich (Edward), and Peter Halverson (Darlene), all of Alaska. She was preceded in death by her husband, Michael W. Sinnott; sister, Roberta Reid; brother, Michael (Butchie) Halverson; nephews: Gregory Nentwich and Michael F. Halverson; and parents, Margaret and Faville Halverson.

Funeral services will be held Friday, September 1, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. in the Sun River 1st Ward Chapel, 4461 South Country Club Drive, St. George, Utah. A visitation will be held Friday, prior to services, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the church. Interment will be in Tonaquint Cemetery, 1777 South Dixie Drive, St. George, Utah.

Those who are unable to attend are invited to view the service from the following link: https://zoom.us/j/93232337486