Margaret E. Tait

Margaret Elizabeth Park Tait (Margie), age 89, of Portsmouth, Virginia, formerly of Valencia, Middlesex Township, passed away on March 21, 2026, at her home. 

Born in Pittsburgh, PA on August 21, 1936, she was the daughter of the late Crawford Hogue Park and Margaret Dick Park.

Margie lived a life of service, beginning with an assignment to the American Mission Hospital in Assiut, Egypt, shortly after completing her BSN at the University of Pittsburgh.  Margie returned to western Pennsylvania in 1963.  She married seminarian James A. Tait in March 1964 and was widowed in April.  Margie returned to the Middle East early in 1966, where she continued her work as a nurse in Tabriz, Iran and Tanta, Egypt.  When she came home again in 1969, she earned a Master’s degree in Nursing at the University of Pittsburgh.  Called to mission work in eastern Kentucky, she was advised that she would reach many as a public health nurse.  She found great joy in meeting patients in their homes and nursed spirits as well as bodies during her decade in Beattyville, KY.  

Margie moved to Portsmouth, Virginia to be a help to her mother in 1985.  She found meaningful work at Holiday House for disabled children and with the Virginia Department of Health before she cared for her mother full-time until her death.  She then returned to home health nursing for several years.

Beyond her nursing work, Margie was committed to Bible study groups; she was a resource to many on their faith journeys.  With no children of her own, she appreciated being an “other mother” to several women and an extra grandmother to their children.  Getting to know people brought Margie great joy - people were her hobby - and she was particularly fond of children.

In addition to her husband, Margie was predeceased by her brother Crawford Dick Park.  Surviving her are nieces Jennifer Bruggink (John) of Marquette, MI, Rebecca Cameron (Christopher) of Carmichael, CA, and Anna Simons (Joseph) of Chesapeake, VA, and nephews Jonathan Park and Andrew Park of Chesapeake, VA, and Matthew Park (Laura) of Royersford, PA, as well as seven grand-nieces and two grand-nephews.  She appreciated the opportunities she had to provide significant caregiving for them and took joy in being involved in their lives.  Her close friends were the sisters she would have loved to have had.  She is also survived by her beloved friend Laura Jenkins, who came into her life as a helper but became a daughter.

Internment in Glade Run Cemetery will be at 2:00 p.m. on March 30, and a celebration of life will be held at Crosswater Presbyterian Church, in the Stonebridge School at 1629 Jolliff Rd, Chesapeake, VA at 2:00 pm on April 18.  In lieu of flowers donations in her memory may be made to Crosswater Presbyterian Church, PO Box 9696, Chesapeake, VA 23321.

Arrangements are under the direction of the McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home, Inc. 238 Crowe Ave. Mars, PA and condolences are available at www.mcdonald-aeberli.com.