MARGO ARAGON HERRINGTON

1959 - 2018

Margo Aragon Herrington, 59, continued her adventurous journey from this life to the next on April 2, 2018. Her death was due to colon cancer. When she was born in Los Angeles on February 20, 1959, her paternal grandmother Chole Romero said "it was raining and the birds sang in the trees." Her parents were Evelyn Cruz Gomez Aragon and Raul Aragon. Margo attended local elementary schools and graduated from Central Union High School. She attended Imperial Valley College and San Diego State College., but decided to give modeling a serious try before graduating. In 1980, she moved to Idaho. She graduated from Lewis-Clark State College and immediately attended Bennington College, receiving an MFA in Writing. During this time, she was also a KLEW-TV broadcaster and host of Northwest Morning. In 1997, Margo and Horace Axtell published a book A Little Bit of Wisdom: Conversations with a Nez Perce Elder with Confluence Press and publisher James Hepworth. Horace and Margo also translated the oldest book in the Pacific Northwest, Nez Perces First Book: For Children and New Beginners. Margo also wrote for other publications including Idaho Magazine. Margo also served on the board of several local, state and regional organizations. Additionally, she worked at the University of Idaho Press, Community Action Partnership, Walla Walla Community College and Northwest Indian College. In 2008 Margo met John Herrington, the first indigenous astronaut. They were married twice in 2009; once in California and once by Horace in a Nez Perce ceremony in Joseph, Oregon. Margo is survived by her dear husband, John; brother, Eric (Sacha); in-laws, James (Jo) and Jennifer (Mark); several stepchildren, her dear nieces, Diamond and Heaven; numerous nieces, nephews, beloved aunts, uncles and cousins. A sweet grandson, Brogan. The entire Axtell family. Devoted friends and neighbors whose love was shown on a daily basis. Service was held at Pi-nee-waus Community Building, in Lapwai, ID. Burial was also held at Normal Hill Cemetery. A Celebration of life will be held at Clarkston's Quaility Inn on the 3rd weekend in April and in San Diego at at later date. In lieu of flowers consider donating to Sel-wey-Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation (www.selway-bitteroot.org) or the Idaho Humanities Council (www.idahohumanities.org).