Margaret L. Hunter

Margaret L. Hunter, 98, formerly of Alexandria Bay, passed away Friday, December 19th, at Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown. While the medical cause may be listed on the official certificate, those who knew her suspect she simply decided it was finally time to go manage the Yankees’ bullpen from a better vantage point.

Born December 3, 1927, in Theresa, NY, she was the daughter of Winfield H. and Lois Graves Kelsey. A 1945 graduate of Theresa High School, Margaret carried the proud, industrious grit of her Kelsey farming roots throughout her entire life. She knew that whether you were raising crops, children, or a bit of trouble, the secret ingredient was always hard work and unwavering attention.

She married Douglas K. Hunter on May 24, 1946, at the Theresa Methodist Church. Mr. Hunter passed away on April 16, 2003, and one imagines the reunion has already involved a stern lecture on how the Christmas lights are hung.

For many years, Margaret was a fixture at the Edgewood Resort in Alexandria Bay. She didn't just wait tables; she commanded the dining room with the efficiency of a field general and the hospitality of a saint. She also brought her signature energy to Thompson Resorts, working as a hostess at Capt.’s Landing and in the company’s gift shops. To Margaret, service wasn't just a job, it was a performance art. She is well remembered by countless seasonal coworkers, residents, and vacationers from around the Thousand Islands.

Margaret was a woman of fierce passions. Her garden was her sanctuary, though the weeds knew better than to show their faces in her soil. She was a chipmunk feeder, avid bowler, golfer, and cross-country skier who always played to win. This competitive streak extended to card games with her grandchildren, where she operated under the strict policy that "mercy" was not a rule found at her table.

A die-hard superfan of the New York Yankees and Syracuse Basketball, she offered coaching advice from her living room that was both loud and, in her opinion, entirely correct. Her sharp wit, fierce loyalty, and constant oversight of all family activities leave a legacy that echoes off the waves of the St. Lawrence and ripples through the Indian River Lakes she loved so dearly.

She is survived by a son, Mark (Jill) Hunter, of Alexandria Bay; a daughter, Jean (William, deceased) Decker, of Theresa; 5 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren all who have all been properly schooled in cards; her sister-in-law, Nellie Kelsey; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Douglas; a brother, Wink Kelsey; and a sister, Phyllis Whitmore.

Calling hours will be held Tuesday, December 23rd, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM at the Costello Funeral Home, Alexandria Bay. A funeral service will begin at 3:00 PM with the Rev. Jeff McIlrath officiating. Spring burial (when the earth is finally soft enough to meet Margaret's standards) will be in Brookside Cemetery, Plessis.

Memorial donations may be made in Margaret’s name to the Indian River Ambulance Fund, 6.5 Sand Street, Philadelphia, NY 13673, or at irambulance.org.