Margaret H. Cochran "Peggy'

Peggy was born on December 31, 1949 to Charles William Skinner and Bette Birch (Sweet) Skinner in Schenectady, NY. She was proudly raised and lived in Calvert County, MD.

She was the second oldest of 5 children and grew up on a traditional tobacco farm in Port Republic, MD. She shared memories of stripping tobacco, collecting eggs, and milking the cows. She enjoyed helping her mother inside the home caring for her younger siblings.

Peggy graduated from Calvert Sr. High School and later attended Temple Business School. She worked for the FBI, the Calvert Health Department, and retired from the Department of Social Services.

She was a lifelong member of Christ Episcopal Church where she could usually be found serving on the Altar Guild as she had since the age of 11, singing in the choir where she and husband Art met, or serving on the Vestry, at different times in her life. She was devoted to her church, her duties, and to God. Her daughters remember being woken in the morning as she practiced her choir hymns while preparing her coffee.

She enjoyed many church activities, especially the annual Jousting Tournament, either serving dinners, working booths, or watching family members ride and hang the rings throughout her years.

From her hospital bed she even directed her husband on how to properly wash and iron the altar linens, checked in to ensure apples had been acquired for the traditional Tournament dinner applesauce, prepared fundraiser placemats, and shared her preferences for the candles to be used on the altar.

Peggy loved nature and the outdoors. Her favorite time was the changing of the seasons. She spent mornings tending to her chickens and ducks, each of which she had named. She enjoyed many walks through the woods with her 4-legged companions. Whether tending to her garden, helping her husband with their surveying business, or taking rides to the mountains to see the changing leaves, she could identify every tree, plant, or flower she came across.

She was a member of the Calvert Garden Club and enjoyed cutting greenery for the Christmas Courthouse decorations, making flower arrangements for Annmarie Gardens “Artsbloom”, trips to visit various gardens, and her friendships with members. Her motto was, “Flowers are for sharing.”

Peggy enjoyed watching and identifying birds at her feeders. She had a great sense of humor and had lovingly named the regular songbird visitors after her church choir friends.

She was as strong-willed as she was funny and had a bold and honest way. You never questioned how she felt, where you stood, and her views of the world.

She loved reading about history, local lore, and of course about God.

Peggy’s laugh could be heard before she was seen. She is remembered by her granddaughter as having a smile that stretched ear to ear often after sharing a funny thought with family or friends.

After a years-long battle with lung cancer, she passed peacefully in Calvert County surrounded by family on the morning of Monday, September 14, 2026. She is loved, missed, and will be remembered by many.

Peggy is survived by her husband Arthur Cochran of St. Leonard, MD, her twin daughters Elizabeth Jane Iampieri (Christopher) of Lusby, MD and Catherine Elaine Cochran of North Beach, MD and her granddaughter Mia Leigh Iampieri of Lusby, MD; her siblings Sue Skinner of Silver Spring MD, Bill Skinner (Dawn) of Port Republic, MD, and Janie Joy (Jeffrey, Sr.) of Port Republic, MD; brother-in-law Peter Cochran of Port Republic, MD and close family friend Marilynn Williams of Silver Spring, MD; nephew, Jeffrey Joy Jr. of Solomons, MD (Danielle, and children McKenna and Hudson), and niece Missy Kostek of Port Republic, MD (Erik, and children Violet, Phoenix, and Ivy); and many cousins Ed, Betsey, Jack, Barry, Allyson, Phillip, and Bryson, their spouses and children.

She was predeceased by her parents, and brother Charles Wesley “Bud” Skinner.

Family and friends are invited to say farewell at Christ Church, 3100 Broomes Island Rd., Port Republic, MD on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 10am family viewing, 10:30am friends, 11am service, with graveside committal following, Fr. David Svihel officiating, with reception to follow in the Parish Hall. Memorial contributions can be made to Christ Church.