Margaret E. Rayl

Margaret E. Hill Rayl, 97, passed away September 30, 2017 due to natural causes. She was born in Pontiac, MI, in 1920, where she also attended school and worked her first job as a bookkeeper at a local bank. In 1943, she enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a WAVE, where she was trained as a storekeeper and assigned to the Equipment Depot in San Diego, CA. She was discharged as a Chief Petty Officer and took advantage of the GI Bill to get a degree in Education from the University of Missouri. She met and married Robert L. (Bob) Rayl, a newly graduated Geologist, in 1949. They moved to Billings, MT, when Bob got a job with Phillips Petroleum (now Conoco Phillips), where he worked for 34 years. Daughter Patti was born in 1950 and twin girls, Linda and Karen were born in 1953. Margaret was a Girl Scout Troop leader for 10 years, while the family was based in Denver, CO. She also served two years as President of the Ikebana International Denver Chapter. As well as being a member of the Rocky Mountain Geological Wives Auxiliary, she enjoyed participating in bridge clubs and potluck groups. After moving several times, Margaret and Bob returned to Denver in 1982, where Bob ran Phillips' Western Division. After Bob retired in 1986, he and Margaret settled in Denver and traveled all over the world. In 2006, they moved into Holly Creek Retirement Community. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, October 27, 2017 at 10am in the Fellowship Hall at Holly Creek Retirement Community, 5500 East Peakview Avenue, Centennial, CO 80121. Please share memories of Margaret, and condolences for her family, by signing the guestbook below.