Peggy Ellwanger

Wewoka City Councilwoman and Vice-Mayor Peggy Ellwanger passed away Sunday, August 29, 2021 in Holdenville Oklahoma after a brief illness.

Peggy Joyce Taylor was born January 24, 1938 in Holdenville, Oklahoma to Sylvester Barbe (S.B.) Taylor and Goldie Beatrice (Robertson) Taylor. She spent her youth in Holdenville where she graduated from Holdenville High School as a member of the Class of 1956. A gifted student, Peggy excelled at basketball, academics, and anything she set her mind to do.

While in high school, she was member of the famed Holdenville Elkettes, a group of young women ambassadors that performed dance and drill routines across the US, from California and Washington, DC - even appearing on “The Jackie Gleason Show”.

Following graduation, Peggy began what would become a 25-year career in the medical field. She worked as a staff member and later as manager of Physicians & Surgeons Clinic in Holdenville. When the P&S Clinic was purchased by Oklahoma City Clinic, Peggy became area manager for several rural clinics in the Hughes County region.

In 1983, Peggy became the sole owner of Ell’s Diamond Shop, a Wewoka jewelry store opened in 1935 by her aunt-by-marriage, Thelma Ellwanger and Thelma’s late husband Gus. It was during her ownership of Ell’s that Peggy’s love for the Wewoka community grew, leading to a lifelong commitment to her adopted hometown. Peggy faithfully and energetically served organizations of all types throughout the city of Wewoka. She was president of the Wewoka Band Boosters, president of the United Wewoka Merchants Association, president and director of the Wewoka Country Club, and lead or supported numerous other clubs and organizations in the community. She was the second woman to serve as president of the Wewoka Chamber of Commerce and committed her term to “Accentuating the Positive” of Wewoka; something she did for the remainder of her life. In recognition of her service to the community of Wewoka, Peggy was awarded “Citizen of the Year” by the Wewoka Chamber of Commerce in 1990.

In 1994, Peggy began another career working for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. Here, Peggy found a passion helping children who were desperately in need of love, security, and respect. Among the many projects and accomplishments, she achieved for the local DHS office, she developed Seminole County’s Child Abuse Awareness programs and grew them to the point of receiving state-wide recognition. In 2016, DHS employees of Seminole County received the Freida Mosley Award for their work throughout the community, much of which was planned and executed under Peggy. In 2009, Ellwanger received the Donna Nigh Award for Public Service and was also the recipient of commendation by the Oklahoma State Legislature.

Peggy’s greatest and most lasting work for the community of Wewoka was through her thirty-plus years as a member of the Wewoka City Council. Ellwanger was sworn-in as Ward 5 Councilwoman in April of 1989 and held the post continuously until her death. She became Wewoka’s Vice-Mayor in 1995. Her over-three-decades of knowledge and experience made her the go-to council person if you had an issue, no matter the ward in which you lived.

Despite advancements in technology, Ellwanger always kept a land-line telephone so that anyone with a problem could find her number in the phone book. She gave her best to anyone that was in need.

Peggy loved helping make Wewoka a special place and was an ambassador for the town wherever she went. She worked hard to make Wewoka’s Sorghum Festival a showcase for the city, as she oversaw multiple successful Sorghum Banquets and volunteered tirelessly for the Seminole Nation Museum.

A voracious reader and an advocate for always learning something new, Peggy championed Wewoka’s beautiful Public Library, and was one of its most frequent patrons. She loved road trips to unknown adventures and was always looking for the latest restaurant to try in Oklahoma City or Tulsa. A Rod Stewart or Elton John concert was never out of the question, either.

Peggy is preceded in death by her parents, Goldie and S. B. Taylor and her aunt and uncle, Lorraine and Joe Taylor of Oklahoma City.

She is survived by her son, Richard Ellwanger of Wewoka; her sister Patsy Taylor Cook of Wewoka; niece Kristi Cook Boots and husband Steve of Seminole, Oklahoma; great-nephew Connor Boots and wife Karlee of Edmond, Oklahoma; and a cousin, Ginger Taylor Gragg and husband Rich of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials in Peggy’s name be made to the Wewoka Public Library or Wewoka’s Seminole Nation Museum. If a memorial gift is not possible, the family asks that you give of your time to a worthwhile cause in your community in her honor.

Graveside services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Thursday, September 2, 2021, at Oakwood Cemetery in Wewoka. Chief-elect of the Seminole Nation Lewis J. Johnson is officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Stout-Phillips Funeral Service.