Margaret R. Bland, age 84, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on January 9, 2026, at her home in Portland, Oregon.

Margaret was born Margaret Rose Halfpenny on June 30, 1941, in Birmingham, England to her mother, May, and father, William. She was born during the war and raised with her siblings Mary, Patricia, Anthony and Elizabeth. She moved to the United States in her early twenties, following her sister, Patricia, and her brother-in-law, Franz. When she arrived stateside, she fell in love with her husband of 59 years, Robert (Bob) Bland, at the Arizona Biltmore, where she was a waitress and he was a cook.

Margaret was stylish, loving, and fiercely independent, traveling back to England on the Queen Mary from Los Angeles through the Panama Canal all by herself. For many years, Margaret and Bob worked at the Biltmore during the winter and Jackson Hole, Wyoming or Traverse City, Michigan during the summer, making many friends in all those places.

She raised two wonderful, successful daughters, Sarah and Jennifer, with whom she's hared many happy memories—traveling together, cheering at their softball games and being a Girl Scout Leader. They each married the loves of their lives: Sarah met Rory, and Jennifer met Maureen. She was so very proud of her talented grandson, Kyle, whom she loved deeply.

In her later years, Margaret and Bob would spend their summers at their beach house in Oceanside, Oregon, which they shared with Sarah and Rory. She enjoyed walking on the beach, collecting agates, and tending to her flowers (which the local deer also enjoyed). In the winters, they spent their time in Buckeye and Scottsdale, enjoying visits with their niece, Heidi, her husband Keith, and their beautiful daughter, Elle.  They also enjoyed many adventures with her brother, Anthony, and his wife, Tali.

Margaret is survived by her husband, Robert; their two daughters, Sarah and Jennifer; Jennifer’s wife, Maureen; her grandson, Kyle and his partner, Steven; as well as her brother, Anthony and his wife, Tali, and her sister, Elizabeth.

A Celebration of Life will be planned in Phoenix, Arizona, at a later date when the family is ready. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Parkinson’s and Breast Cancer research. She will be forever loved.