Margaret Houston DuBois

Margaret Houston DuBois, a former Cortez resident, died November 3, 2023, at her home in Mesa, Arizona, at age 85, in the company of a close friend. She was born in West Virginia to Frances Ebeling DuBois Ward and Merlin Archibald DuBois.

Margaret lived a vivid, active life until her last day, as an adventurous world traveler, including in Europe, Asia, and Africa, and a student of languages and cultures both ancient and contemporary. Her humility and compassion for others brought her to activities helping those facing difficulties, including as an advocate for crime victims in Colorado and volunteer work in Ukraine during the current war; at the time of her death, she was preparing a second trip to Ukraine. Margaret’s formal education included study at Radcliffe College and Columbia University, and a year of study in Lausanne, Switzerland—but active learning was a significant characteristic of her entire life. She loved meeting new people, new places, new languages, and new ideas. A deeply private person, Margaret was also a loyal friend, enjoyed, loved, and respected by many for her intelligence, wit, and independence of mind.

She is survived by her sister, Barbara DuBois, of Prescott, Arizona; their younger sister, Anne, of Cortez, Colorado, died in 2014. Margaret is also kindly remembered by cousins, nieces, and nephews in New England and Mexico.