Obituary of Margaret Jane ‘Peggy’ Yost, 86
Margaret Jane ‘Peggy’ Yost.
Margaret Jane ‘Peggy’ Yost
May 24, 1939 – Aug. 18, 2025
– Our beloved mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, and sister Margaret “Peggy” (McMahan) Yost, 86, a longtime resident of Paso Robles, California, since 1957, passed away peacefully on August 18, 2025, with family at her side. Peggy was born May 24, 1939, in Redlands, California to Clarence “Foster” and Mildred (Lay) McMahan.
Peggy graduated from Pacific High School, San Bernardino, California in 1957 where she was in drill team, high school mascot, and President of the Radio Club with her own radio show. After high school graduation Peggy joined her family in Paso Robles where they had moved for her father to take a job at the Paso Robles Youth Authority. Peggy had remained in San Bernardino with family in order to finish her Senior year.
Shortly after moving to Paso Robles, she took a job at the Paso Robles Nursing Home. It was during that time that she started dating Richard “Dick” Yost. After a short courtship, Peggy and Dick were married on May 31, 1958 at the First Christian Church in Paso Robles and were married 66 years, until Dick passed in 2024. Dick was working in the San Ardo oilfields, so they made their first home on the Glau Ranch in San Ardo.
Their daughter, Bonnie was born in 1959 and a short time later they moved to Paso Robles where they welcomed their son Michael to the family in 1960. After their children were in elementary school, the family moved back to San Ardo for a few years. Peggy helped out at her in-laws Texaco gas station and grocery store, as well as the local branches of Monterey County library and courthouse. Always being the seamstress, she also helped to sew costumes for the local K-8 school’s annual Christmas plays. After moving back to Paso Robles in the late 1960’s Peggy became involved in the first chartered chapter of Paso Robles Junior Women’s Club. She also worked jobs for a local orthodontist, worked for her mom at the Mode ‘O Day, clerk at Dauth Leisy and local doctor’s offices.
Peggy also became an active member of St. James Episcopal Church where Dick had been a member his whole life. She sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, and served on the church vestry. She was also a Campfire leader in the early 1970s. a highlight in Peggy’s life was in 1976, the family was chosen to be host family to the 1976-1977 American Field Service foreign exchange student. Marja Vervoort from the Netherlands lived with the family and attended Paso Robles High School with Bonnie and Michael. Marja is still a loved member of the family.
Now living in Australia, married to Tony Jarvis, with four grown children. Marja’s last visit with the family was in June this year, not knowing at the time that Peggy had ovarian cancer, this visit, just seven weeks before Peggy’s passing, was a treasured three days. Peggy, always active and the social person, lived life to the fullest, and was always there for her family, even up to a week before her passing. Peggy was blessed with some treasured friends. She is already missed beyond words.
Peggy was preceded in death by her husband Richard Yost, parents Foster and Mildred McMahan, father-in-law Don Yost, mother in-law Frances (Clevenger) Yost, and brother-in-law Robert Yost. She was followed in death by sister-in-law, Donna (Pemble) McMahan. She is survived by daughter Bonnie (Yost) Morris, granddaughter Ashley Morris, and grandson Troy Morris, son and daughter-in-law Michael and Cynthia Yost, sister Barbara (Darrin) Monroe, brother Patrick McMahan, as well as several nieces and nephews, as well as many loved family members on her husband’s Yost and Clevenger sides of the family.
Memorial service for Peggy will be held Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, at 1 p.m. at St. James Episcopal Church, 1335 Oak St., Paso Robles, with a gathering of family and friends to follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Peggy’s name to Hearst Cancer Resource Center, at French Hospital, 1941 Johnson Ave Ste 201A, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401.
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