Obituary: Hillman, Margaret (Freeborg)
Age 72
She was born in Spokane on October 28, 1942, the oldest child of Eloise (McDougall) and Gerald Freeborg, both 1931 Hillyard High School graduates.
She and her sister Kathryn grew up in the Spokane Valley until 1953, when the family moved to a small farm in Green Bluff.
Eloise was a surgical nurse at Deaconness Hospital and Gerald drove milk truck for the Early Dawn Dairy.
Margaret inherited her mother’s academic drive, graduating valedictorian in 1960 from Mead High School where she was a member of the National Honor Society, as well as a cheerleader and a Spokane Lilac Festival Princess.
Inheriting her musical ability from her father, she was an accomplished pianist and also sang in the select girls choir the Melodettes.
She became involved in Young Life and first visited their camp Malibu on Princess Louisa Inlet in British Columbia in 1958, later serving on the work crew for several years.
Educating their daughters was a priority for Eloise and Gerald.
Margaret was active at Whitworth College, where she graduated in 1964 with a degree in biology and a minor in education.
She was a teaching assistant and worked in the student union while also serving as a Young Life leader for local high schools.
She moved to Port Townsend, Washington for her first teaching position in 1964 where she met the love of her life, Myron “Tike” Hillman.
They married on August 28, 1965 in Spokane, and they would have celebrated 50 years of marriage this year.
Their two children, Mark and Kristina, were born and raised in Port Townsend.
Throughout her distinguished 27-year career, Margaret taught junior high and high school in Port Townsend, including courses in science, health, English, social studies and math.
She was passionate about providing opportunities for kids through her tireless work as activities director for over a decade.
Margaret had a genuine concern for all her students as individuals and was a mentor to many teachers.
After she retired in 1998, she continued to serve the community as a volunteer for the Juvenile Diversion Program Community Accountability Board and supported teacher grants with the Washington State School Retirees’ Association.
Margaret loved being outdoors with her family.
Skiing was her favorite pastime, and she was an avid boater.
A devoted grandmother, she cherished the time she spent with her grandkids on the boat, crabbing, or playing on the beach at home.
She is survived by her husband; son Mark and his wife, Barrie, and their children Julie and Tyler of Poulsbo, Washington; daughter Kristina and her partner, Derek Chaves, and his son Cody of Sammamish, Washington; and sister Kathryn Patjens and her husband, Hank, and son Erik of Tacoma, Washington.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m., June 13, 2015 at the Northwest Maritime Center, 431 Water Street in Port Townsend, WA.
Memorials may be made to Olympic Peninsula Young Life, P.O Box 630, Port Townsend, 98368. olympicpeninsula.younglife.org or Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County, P.O.
Box 658, Port Townsend, WA 98368. habitatejc.org.