— from the family of Margie Doyle —
Orcas Island and its close-knit community has always been so important to our Mom. For many years she has taken so much meaning from her work among you all as an editor, journalist, activist, musician, lifelong learner, and friend. We want to share with you now a recent health complication she is enduring and, to whatever extent it is knowable, what the immediate future holds for her. Although this is sad news to deliver, we hold to the idea that every phase of our lives can be imbued with meaning, and that will be something to hold onto when it feels like so much is slipping away.
In October 2018 Mom began to suffer some effects of a neurological condition, which produced small lesions in her brain. Over a number of doctor visits and MRI scans, doctors continued to search for a definitive diagnosis. A little more than a week ago, her symptoms worsened and she was admitted to the neurology unit at Swedish Hospital in Seattle. This time, the lesions affecting her brain have had more profound effects on her memory, ability to communicate, and a few other facets of her personality. At this point we are hoping that the effects are somewhat reversible, but are in the difficult position of not knowing what is a permanent effect and what is temporary. This has, from the beginning, been a challenge of “wait and see.”
Her doctors continue to search for a diagnosis, and while she currently remains hospitalized, we aren’t sure yet what comes next. If you’d like to send her a letter or card, we have included an address below. Her address may change over the next few months, so her kids will make sure that your card gets to her. Though she is mostly unable to communicate directly at this point, she is always happy to hear from any of her dear friends and family.
Margie Doyle
℅ Jeff Steele
6238 N.E. Center Street
Suquamish, WA 98392
If you would like to send her children Jasmine, Rory or Jeff an email, you are welcome to do so. As we are in constant contact with each other, just send a message to her son Jeff and he will try to reply when he can. His email is: jeffdoylesteele@gmail.com
EDITOR’S NOTE: Prior to her hospitalization, Margie executed a Purchase Agreement transferring ownership of Orcas Issues to Lin McNulty. She wants the work to go on.
Tally ho, Lin McNulty. I believe Margie will be glad to know that Orcas Issues lives
Margie has given so much so our community. My thoughts are with her.
This saddens me so. Margie is such a bright light in our community in every way. I love her dearly and hope she is able to conquer this mountain as she has so many others. Go get ’em tiger!!
Lance and I send our love to Margie and her family.
Grateful that Margie is in a great place for care and healing. Sending love to both Margie and the family.
This is so sad. My thoughts are with Margie and her family.
Our thoughts are with Margie and her family.
Margie – take care and we are all pulling for you. The islands not the same without you.
We love you, Margie and have always admired you. With love, Tony and I send you light to illuminate any darkened spaces within.
Sending MUCH LOVE to Margie
Please give her big hugs and let her know we are sending many thoughts and prayers!!
Thinking of Marge and her family. Wishing for the best.
So good of the family to include us in sharing Margie’s situation! Thank you.
I have, for the 16 years I’ve been on Orcas, been an admirer of yours, Margie…your will coupled with humility, your graciousness, your skills in journalism, your musicality (your willingness to sing the Vivaldi duet with me!), your joyfulness & love of communicating whatever subject needs writing about….I know you will work this present issue through with these same qualities.
We love you,
Margot
What a gal! She and I have been personal friends for over 25 years.
Both being journalists, we took to each other.
Sitting in the Lower, with ‘Bev of Choice’, prepping tomorrow’s stories.
Her Birthday was a few days ahead of mine, so on emails she was Gemini 1, and I was Gemini 2.
Gunna miss you on the Rock, Honey!
—Harry
Margie,
You are the one, have always been the one with the the grit and the questing, fighting spirit and so we pray that grit and fighting spirit are with you now. We send our positive thoughts and prayers for your strength, recovery and peace of mind.
Margie, I appreciate and have admired your service to our community for these many years. I thank your family for sharing your current challenges. My thoughts are with you and your family.
On behalf of the Orcas Island Board of Fire Commissioners, we have Margie in our thoughts, and wish her family hope and comfort through this difficult time. We appreciate Margie’s energetic and consistent reporting on OIFR and many other issues, which has been fair and thoughtful. We look forward and hope to see her back.
Prayers to Margie and her family.
I’m so grateful to Margie’s children for their generosity in providing us some news, and for graciously giving us Jeff’s address so we can send cards.
Margie, you are in my heart, prayers, and fervent wishes. I miss seeing your beautiful face and smile, hearing you sing, and having the many deep and real talks we’ve had through the years. I respect and admire your integrity, intelligence, and sincerity so much.
Lin, we so appreciate your taking the helm and keeping this work alive; you have been a big part of O.I. from the get-go. Such gratitude to you both for providing a community forum of this quality.
Sending lots of love and good thoughts your way.
Joanne and I will pray for Margie and family. Thank you all for sharing. We are in this with you together. It’s what makes our island so special.
Dear Margie, I’m so sad about this condition. You are a standard of excellence to our community, the heart and brains of quality journalism with integrity. We love you Margie. Sending prayers and North Beach sunsets.
So sorry to hear of Margie’s illness and thinking of you, her family, in this time of being in the journey of discovering what is the best next step. Holding all in heart and mind. Margie has always been a champion for community engagement and worked tirelessly to generate an informed public through open channels of communication and published information.
Margie,when we first heard you were ill, we couldn’t believe it. You have always been the picture of good health, energetic, fun, and beautiful. We have been members of so many island organizations and friends from the beginning. You are in our prayers
Margie is just a marvelously bright person. She has touched us all in so many ways here on Orcas – always working hard to navigate thoughtfully through our island growing pains, to shed light, joy, support and comfort where needed. She is and has been a remarkably generous, courageous and positive influence. I send loving wishes for her full recovery!
Sending Margie and all the family lots of love and wishes for healing and peace.
Mike Hurwicz and I are sending lots of love and healing energy to you, Margie. Get well soon! We miss you and all you bring to our community here on Orcas! I’m envisioning you back home, well and singing in the Choral Society concerts! Love to your family as well.
Dear Margie, So sorry to hear this news. You have the whole community rooting for you. And, thank goodness for your strength of spirit. We send you love and all best wishes in your recovery from this. We need you back on Orcas!
Love, Kristen, Ed and Paris
Thinking of you dear Margie, and sending love.
Margie–dear friend and inspiration to our whole community! All the things people write about you and to you are true to the hundredth power! If love could heal, then you are healed. Healing angels surround you.
I’ve known Margie since she came to my first-grade birthday party all those aeons ago on Seattle’s Capitol Hill, and we had the good fortune of re-connecting on Orcas Island after our various globe-trotting grown-up adventures. She will leave a gaping hole in our community fabric and in my heart if she continues her journey off-island. I’m hoping for the best, sending positive thoughts and wishes her way.
So sorry to hear this news. Margie is a bright light on the island and an inspiration. Our family sends our love and positive thoughts to her and her family.
Love to Margie and family!
Margie, my prayers are with you and thanks, too, for being part of the best of Orcas for all these years. Love, Jan
Me too, Margie, me too. All the things your friends are saying here to you, about you–me too…
I have asked and gotten permission to put out a call for photos of Margie and the people and places she loves from Orcas. I’ll make a slide show for her to watch and remember the good times and to surround her with our love. Please send to me at mobrienorcas@gmail.com. Thank you.
Margie,you give so much to our community. Come home soon and let us give back to you.
This is sad… waiting and hoping for a positive outcome. You’ve been huge in my life Margie… much love. Looking to see you on the streets again soon!
Get well soon, Margie!
Margie my dear friend, how can this be happening to you. You are one of the good ones that we all love and look up to. you are always there for us and now we will try to be there for you.
Hi Margie, I am praying for your speedy and quick recovery from this challenge that you are dealing with.
You are a strong warrior woman, faithful to your principals in integrity. I admire these qualities in you.
Know that Creator walks with you and your family through this time of challenge in your life and know that my visualization for you is a perfect and healthy body and Spirit.
I am praying for your full and speedy recovery. And know that you are being guided and loved in your healing, and that we islanders love you and appreciate you.
With love and blessings,
Spirit Eagle.
We all know what a blessing Orcas Issues has been. What an amazing thing to have a communities’ main source of news, as a public forum. A place where everyone can have an opinion and a voice. This has allowed so much engagement in our community news and dialog. It has opened us up to grow beyond just being spoon-fed state-approved news. Bless You, Margie, for this!
Thank You.
Let it all go, let God, and get well soon.
Domenic Verbano