Margaret Budlong Wootton, 81, died peacefully on Friday, June 17, 2005. She was surrounded by family at her home in Idyllwild.

Funeral services were held Thursday, June 23 in Hemet. She was buried at the National Cemetery in Riverside. A public memorial was held Friday, June 24 at The Creek House in Idyllwild.

She was born March 14, 1924 in Long Beach to Edward Hiram and Maud Gridley Budlong.

She was married to W.M. “Bill” Wootton on July 19, 1947. They were blessed with a daughter, Linda Diane, and a son, Scott Allen.

The couple were longtime residents of Mohawk Valley in Yuma County, Ariz. For 10 years, Mrs. Wootton taught English as a second language at Mohawk Valley School. She loved teaching literacy to children and adults, and had an ongoing passion for education.

Upon retirement in 1980, the couple moved to Idyllwild where they had honeymooned 33 years earlier. Mrs. Wootton spent 20 years researching her family. She became involved with The Family History Center as she continued her work in genealogy.

Mrs. Wootton became interested in photography as a hobby in her later years. She mainly focused on portraits and was especially skilled at taking portraits of children.

She enjoyed capturing the essence of the Fourth of July and Halloween parades with her photos. She also became the official (and self-appointed) photographer for the Annual Wootton Family Reunion held every Thanksgiving in Arizona.

Along with her husband Bill, she is survived by a sister, Jean (George) Finley; a daughter, Linda; a son, Scott (Brenda); four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a large, extended family.

She will be greatly missed but never forgotten.

Mrs. Wootton was interested in education and through the years, helped many students with financial assistance. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Margaret B. Wootton Scholarship Fund at the Idyllwild Arts Academy, P.O. Box 38, Idyllwild, CA 92549, Attn: Margaret B. Wootton Scholarship Fund.