Margaret Daly

Margaret Daly went to be with the Lord on April 29, 2025, at the age of 95. She would have been 96 on June 13th. During her long life, she remained a committed Christian, devoted to her family and to the translation of the scriptures for indigenous people. She raised five children in Mexico while working on Bible translation for the Mixtec indigenous people of Peñoles. In more recent years she has lived in San Diego, enjoying her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Anna Margaret Holland was born June 13, 1929, in Burbank, California. She became a Christian at Forest Home at the age of 18, then attended Simpson Bible College where she met John Daly. Among other activities, they sang in a traveling choir together as Margaret pursued a degree in music. Throughout her life, Margaret used her musical talent by singing solos, playing her flute, joining choirs (including an opera), teaching piano and choir, and writing music. Margaret and John married in June 1951. They had their oldest daughter Elaine in Seattle in 1952 followed by Beverly in Glendale, CA in 1954.
Margaret and John joined Wycliffe Bible Translators in August 1955. In 1956 while taking the second summer course in linguistics, they heard about the Mixtecs of Oaxaca, Mexico. They requested this assignment and moved to Santa Maria Peñoles in March 1957. For most of the next 22 years they lived there while learning the language and culture, translating the New Testament and writing and publishing teaching materials and technical articles about the language and culture. Three more children were added to the Daly family: Sharon in Mexico City in June 1958, Kelly in Oaxaca City in October 1960 and Chuck in Bloomington, IN on the same date in September 1963 as his older sister Bev, making them "twins" 9 years apart.
During many summers, Margaret taught linguistics at SIL-UND (Summer Institute of Linguistics-University of North Dakota) where John served as director. She completed an MA in Anthropology from the University of Arizona in 1970. The first edition of the Eastern Mixtec New Testament was published in 1979 and a second edition in 2002. Margaret supported John in his ten and a half years of work as an administrator in the Mexico Branch and SIL International. They traveled extensively during his time as Vice President of SIL. They then retired to Tucson to care for John's parents. Their daughter Beverly died of cancer in September 2004. After John's death in September 2009, Margaret worked with the team to complete the Hawai'i Pidgin Scriptures, using her editorial skills. She moved to San Diego in 2018 to live with her daughter Sharon and family.
All her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will miss her sincere interest in their lives, and her affection shown through her cards, gifts, and social media comments. She enjoyed the many family dinners at the Cooper home, multiple outdoor adventures, and visits from the extended family. Margaret joins those from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before Christ, including those she served among the Mixtecos.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Cordell and Faith Holland, her brother Clint Holland, sister Ellen Hallopoff, her husband John, and daughter Beverly Barnett. She is survived by her children Elaine (Steve) Elliott of Antigua, Guatemala; son-in-law Timothy Barnett of Kazakhstan; Sharon (Todd) Cooper of San Diego; Kelly (Jack) Bradley of Tucson; Chuck (Chris) Daly of Rougemont, NC; 17 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren; and six nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Wycliffe Bible Translators (Worldwide Projects Fund) a cause close to Margaret's heart, to support their mission of bringing God's Word to all people in their own language.
Two Celebrations of Life will honor Margaret
Tucson:
The Oasis at Christ Community Church
530 S. Pantano Rd, Tucson, AZ 85715
A reception will follow the service.
San Diego:
Living Way Church
13609 Twin Peaks Rd, Poway, CA 92064
Reception (Fellowship Hall) 2-4 p.m.
To celebrate Margaret's life, please wear something cheerful-bright colors or Hawaiian or Mexican-themed outfits are welcome!
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