Margaret Neale McMaster

Margaret Neale McMaster

October 13, 1934 – December 4, 2024

Margaret Neale McMaster, a Nebraska native and longtime coastside resident, died peacefully on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at her home in San Mateo. She was 90 years old.

As a child Margaret relocated from Nebraska with her family in 1942. The Nelson Family settled in San Gregorio where Margaret lived until she graduated from Half Moon Bay High School in 1952.

Margaret went on to nursing school in Santa Rosa where she graduated in 1955. She spent her long career in nursing, working at doctor’s offices, hospitals, and convalescent hospitals up and down the Peninsula. Margaret cared deeply for her patients and co-workers.

In 1956 Margaret married Earl Thomas McMaster, also a Nebraska native and longtime resident of Half Moon Bay. With Earl stationed abroad, the couple lived in Germany for a short time and then returned to the coastside to settle in Half Moon Bay. Travel was a passion for the couple. If you could cruise there, they visited. They took more than 10 cruises with their final cruise together taking them to Greece, Turkey, and Israel.

Margaret and Earl were also passionate about the arts. They spent many Saturday evenings in San Francisco attending the ballet, opera, musicals, and symphonies. Earl preceded Margaret in death in December 1997.

Margaret was an avid reader and was happiest when she was sitting in the warm sun enjoying a good book. She was also a wonderful cook and enjoyed making dishes from around the world.

Margaret is survived by her brother, David Nelson of San Gregorio; her son, Paul McMaster of Pacifica; her daughters, Michele Duncan of Sunnyvale and Lori Hanson of Mt. Vernon, Washington; and 5 grandchildren, Amanda, Jordan, Leroy, Aidan, and Aaron.

A visitation and chapel service will be held on Wednesday, December 18, at 11:30 AM at Miller-Dutra Coastside Chapel in Half Moon Bay. She will be interred at Skylawn Memorial Park Cemetery immediately following. The family suggests any contributions be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or your local Humane Society.