Margee Donlevy

1956 - 2015

Margee Donlevy (Gilleese) Margee Donlevy passed away on April 10, 2015, surrounded by her family, after a battle with cancer. She was born Margaret Eileen Gilleese to Joseph and Linda Gilleese on June 30th, 1956 in Pendleton, OR. The youngest of 7 children, she grew up in Hermiston, OR, and graduated from Hermiston High School in 1974. Margee attended Oregon State University where she earned a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Food Science and Technology and met her future husband Tris. They were married in 1978 and in 1982 they made the move from Salem, Oregon to Novato, California. Novato is where Margee started her greatest accomplishment, her family. She made the choice to pass on a career, believing it was more important to stay at home and be a mom. To this day, her children are eternally grateful for her sacrifice. Margee was so proud of her children and was always their number one fan. While raising her children, Margee wore many hats: Mother, classroom volunteer, team mom, Brownie troop leader, disciplinarian, CCD teacher, tutor, workout buddy, hiking partner, part time employee, volunteer, and last but not least, loyal friend. Margee also enjoyed traveling the world with her husband Tris. During her life, she was able to travel to more places than she had ever dreamed possible. Her globetrotting started in the U.S. and also included trips to parts of Europe, and the Middle East. She enjoyed gardening and scrapbooking photos from her life and many adventures. She was looking forward to the next chapter of her life with her husband's retirement, seeing her sons eventually get married, and being a grandmother. Unfortunately, she left us too soon. Margee was loved by all who knew her and she will be greatly missed. She will be remembered for her sense of humor and her loving spirit. To honor her memory, have a margarita, enjoy some peanut M&M's, and volunteer your time to a worthy cause. She was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Linda and her sister, Patricia. She is survived by her husband of 36 years, Tris, her sons Brandon and Colin, her daughter Muiread Pickett (Josh), several 4 legged "grandchildren", 5 Siblings and many nieces and nephews. A celebration of Margee's life will be held 10:30 A.M., Saturday May 23, at Our Lady of Loretto Church in Novato, CA. A reception will follow at Druids Hall in Novato. The reception will be a potluck so please bring a dish to share. We will do our best to thank everyone individually, but would still like to express our gratitude to all our friends and family who helped us through this ordeal. Whether it was visits, meals, a phone call or a card, we sincerely appreciate everyone's help and friendship! Remembrances of Margee can be left at: http://adobecreekfuneralhome.com/ Memorial contributions may be made to The American Cancer Society, Hospice by the Bay, or Jewish Family and Children's Services of Marin County.