Margaret B. Greeley; El Camino Schoolteacher

Margaret Bates Greeley, a Ventura resident for 33 years, died at her home recently after a brief illness. She was 86.

Greeley, who played the piano and was a history buff, was born Nov. 17, 1910, in the farming community of Owaneco, Ill. In 1935, she graduated from the University of Illinois, where she studied music and education and later became a teacher. She lived in Bradenton, Fla., for several years before moving to Ventura in 1964.

A teacher at El Camino Elementary School, she was known to dote on students and keep in touch with them after they had graduated. She even attended a few of her former students’ weddings.

“Her students were very important to her, they were her whole life,� said her son, Michael Greeley of Pacoima. “She loved being involved in their lives and never got tired of teaching.�

After retiring, Greeley traveled extensively through Europe and to Israel, and remained active at Sacred Heart Church in Ventura.

“She was always on the go and very involved with everything,� her son said. “You could never find her at home.�

In addition to her son, Greeley is survived by daughters Patricia Lechman of Torrance and Terry Greeley of Ventura; sister Peg Achenbach of Taylorville, Ill.; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

A memorial Mass will be said at 1 p.m. today at Sacred Heart Church, 10800 Henderson Road, Ventura. Ted Mayr Funeral Home in Ventura is handling the arrangements.