Peggy Hill Earp Mcmanus

Peggy Hill Earp McManus passed away peacefully just after midnight on Thursday, April 10, 2025, with her daughters by her side. She was 93 years old. Born on August 13, 1931, in Albemarle, North Carolina, Peggy lived a long, vibrant, and occasionally opinionated life—filled with creativity, love, laughter, and just the right amount of sass.

She was preceded in death by her parents, George E. Earp and Ora Mae Hill Earp Wall; her beloved husband, Sam McManus (2002); and her son, M. Duncan McManus (2017). She is survived by her cherished sister, Jane Brown, and Jane’s husband William, with whom Peggy shared many joyful adventures; her two daughters, Kellie Hamilton (Randy) and Ivy Dillon (AW); her treasured grandchildren, Luke and Zoe Hamilton and Cynthia and Jack Dillon; her beloved niece and nephew, Morgan Magdanz (Greg) and Tom Wells (Kristen); and her adored grand-nephews, Tyler, Sam, and Jackson Magdanz, and Arlo and August Wells.

Peggy met Sam at Albemarle High School, where their lifelong love story began. Surrounded by the deep friendships of those early years—many of which endured through the decades—they built a beautiful life together. Peggy began her college journey at Wake Forest University and later transferred to Meredith College in Raleigh when she and Sam married during their senior year. The two shared a sense of adventure, moving frequently for Sam’s work to places like New Jersey, Idaho, Florida, and South Carolina—always with a pair of doted-on bird dogs in tow.

After ten years of marriage, they welcomed Kellie, followed by Duncan and Ivy once they settled in Las Vegas. Peggy poured herself into motherhood, crafting Halloween costumes, matching outfits, and a home filled with music, books, and creativity. In the early 1970s, the family returned to their North Carolina roots and made Raleigh their home—a place where Peggy thrived as an artist, mother, and friend.

In the late 1970s, Peggy returned to the workforce at the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency following a health scare with Sam, yet she never missed a beat—still making dinner every night, supporting her children’s goals, and carving out time for art, reading, and learning. She was as dependable as she was creative, as thoughtful as she was fierce.

After the kids moved away from home, Sam and Peggy bought a second home on Harkers Island, where they spent many happy (ish) hours deep sea fishing and drinking beer—Sam with a rod in hand, Peggy often with a beer nearby. It was a time of new memories, quiet adventures, and a little salt air in their hair.

Peggy’s talents were numerous and impressive. She could sew anything (and did), taught herself embroidery, crochet, and quilting, and created beautiful works of art in both acrylic and watercolor. Her pen-and-ink drawings were intricate and expressive. A gifted musician, Peggy was invited to attend Juilliard—even after a car accident in her teens left her with a surgically repaired left wrist. She played piano beautifully and had a lovely singing voice, which she shared as a longtime member of the Raleigh Oratorio Society.

Peggy’s sharp mind came with a sharp wit. She could be snarky, she could hold on to a grudge, and she had a talent for telling it like it was. But she had a deeply generous heart. She gave freely to those she loved and to causes that mattered to her, especially to NC State Wolfpack, who enjoyed her unwavering support.

After Sam’s passing, Peggy embraced travel with her sister Jane and brother-in-law William, exploring London, New Orleans, Canada, and making many treasured trips to the mountains of North Carolina. These getaways brought her joy, laughter, and a renewed sense of wonder in the world.

Peggy loved her family deeply, and that love extended to her niece and nephew, Morgan and Tom, and to her grand-nephews Tyler, Sam, Jackson, Arlo, and August—each of whom brought her immense pride and joy.

Peggy lived a life full of color, curiosity, warmth, and depth. She leaves behind a legacy of creativity, loyalty, humor, and love—and she will be remembered with both laughter and tears by all who had the joy of knowing her.

Her memory is a blessing.