Margarita Christina Rainey

August 7, 1927 - May 6, 2025

Margarita C. Rainey passed peacefully in her sleep at The Courtyard at Little Chico Creek on May 6, 2025. Margarita was born August 7, 1927 in Beunos Aires, Argentina, the first child of Alfred and Christina Burgdorf. When she was 4 months old the family immigrated to New York passing thru Ellis Island November 1927. Margarita, along with her mother and baby sister, traveled by bus to LA in 1931 when she was 4 years old. Margarita graduated in 1945 from Fremont High School in LA.

She first met Calvin Rainey while in 7th grade watching him playing a violin solo with the Jr High orchestra. After Calvin returned from serving in the Marine Corps they were married June 21, 1946 and lived happily for 72 years until Calvin passed away August 31, 2018. They enjoyed many years of traveling throughout in the United States, Europe, and cruises to the Panama Canal and Alaska.

Margarita was a working mother of three children, Suzanna, Steven and Timothy.

She loved being around family and going on camping trips, Death Valley at Easter and Mammoth Lakes for 2 plus weeks in the summer. Margarita worked secretarial jobs including Jet Propulsion Laboratory were she was given top security clearance. She did this while going to LA State College where she received a BA in Applied Arts and Sciences.  After that she taught 4th grade for over 30 years in Pasadena and Chico schools.

Margarita was a member and past president of Delta Kappa Gamma Society, a member of Chico Republican Women’s Club, and long time member of First Baptist Church of Chico. Margarita had a Redwood Tree dedicated to her for a Teacher of The Year award.

For many years she organized bus trips to the San Francisco Symphony.  For 40 years she provided support with refreshments and guidance during the Peter Britt Music Festival in Jacksonville, Oregon.Calvin played violin and Margarita accompanied him on the piano at area assisted living facilities, and they both sang in the church choir for many years.

Margarita is survived by son, Timothy Rainey (Nancy), 6 grand children, 8 great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Margarita was preceded in death by her husband of 72 years, Calvin Rainey, daughter Suzanne Christina Rainey Weston and son Steven Earl Rainey.

Internment took place May 28, 2025 at Desert Lawn Memorial Park, Calimesa, CA. Please come to Margarita’s Celebration Of Life at 1pm, Sunday, June 29th at Chico First Baptist Church, 850 Palmetto Ave., Chico.