Ott, Margaret Saunders

(Age 89) Passed away June 8, 2010 in Spokane, WA. Margie May 
was born to Lula May and James Saunders July 18, 1920 in Mt. 
Hope, WA. An only child, she was raisedloving her horse and 
dog,playing baseball, and music, especially her father's love for 
singing. Her piano career was launched in large part to provide 
him accompaniment. She loved to play and worked hard at it, 
garnering scholarships and landing with wonderfulteachers 
throughout her school years. At 11 she started teaching other kids 
to play and her dad bought her an upright piano, her first, still in 
the Mt. Hope Chapel today. Attending a two room school house in 
Mt Hope, she condensed two grades and entered Lewis and Clark 
High School early, allowing her to graduate at 15. Two years at 
University of Washington led to a two year scholarship at Mills 
College, Phi Beta Kappa, where she flourished in that 
smaller,stimulating college environment. From there she gained a 
scholarship to Julliard School of Music where she earned a master's 
degree in 1943. Sheinitially studied with notable performance 
teachers, but her great passion for teaching truly blossomed when 
she became a student of and then thepersonal assistant to 
Madame Olga Samaroff-Stokowski, one of the most sought-after 
teachers in New York at that time. Margie May truly honed her 
passion for teaching working closely with Samaroff in both New 
York and Los Angeles. While in NY she began getting serious about 
a young Navy officer whom she met while at Mills in California. 
Margie May and Franklin Ott were married in 1944 in San Francisco. 
After WWII, the Otts moved back to Spokane, where Franklin 
joined her father's farming and farm machinery business in Fairfield 
and Margie May began her long and prolific teaching career with 
motivated Northwest school age and college students. They filled 
their home on Upper Terrace with friends, pianos, and eventually 
two sons, James Franklin (1949) and Daniel Courtney (1954). Over 
the years many anxious young students and world-famous 
performers were welcomed into this house. Margie May and 
Franklin were long-time supporters of the Arts in Spokane, from 
the early days of the Spokane Symphony to her involvement with 
the nurturing of Musicfest Northwest (Greater Spokane Allied Arts 
Festival) throughout her life. In Spokane, she taught at Holy Names 
Academy, WSU, Gonzaga University, then had a long career at 
Whitworth University as head of the piano department until 1985, 
and privately at her home. Sheexemplified her passion for 
teaching and helping others develop theirteaching skills, doing 
scores of lectures, Master Classes and adjudicating competitions 
around the country, as well as her many active roles in the 
Washington Music Teachers Association (WMTA) and the Music 
TeachersNational Association. The MTNA recognized her many 
contributions with their first national Teacher of the Year Award in 
2003. A greater, legacy however, are her many students and what 
they haveaccomplished with her inspiration, discipline and focus 
she instilled in them over the years. Many are still performing 
nationally and internationally,almost all of them are teaching, both 
locally and at the highest levelsnationally, and each of them carries 
their own story of being personallychallenged, inspired, loved, and 
encouraged to develop their passion and share their love of music 
with others. Her reach extended around the world, particularly to 
a wonderful community of friends and students in 
Thailand,including Payap University in Chaing Mai. There she was 
invited to play for the King and Queen, a particular honor she 
greatly enjoyed. Her love of family gave her great joy in later 
years, extending her support and attention to her sons and 
families and their worlds, with numerous trips to Portland and 
Boston. She is survived by Jim and Ted, Dan and Susan, 
granddaughters Katie and Emily, and daughter-in-law Grace. She 
continued her active support for the arts community and brought 
many wonderful performers to her friends and neighbors at the 
Rockwood Ridge Community, including playing herself for many 
impromptu gatherings, and for the "Tremble Clefs," a singing 
group of folks dealing with Parkinson'sdisease. As she would 
sometimes say, reflecting back,, "what a wonderful life for alittle 
country girl from Mt. Hope!" Wonderful, indeed. We will miss 
yougreatly, Margie May. Memorial Services are planned for Sunday, 
July 18th, (her 90th birthday date) at the Whitworth University 
Chapel at 1:00 p.m. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to: 
Whitworth College Franklin and Margie May Ott Endowed Music 
Scholarship www.whitworth.edu 800.532.4668 Musicfest Northwest 
MARGIE MAY OTT YOUNG ARTIST CONCERT Tel:(509) 327-3455 
www.musicfestnorthwest.org. Music Teachers National Assn 
(MTNA) Margaret Saunders Ott Endowment Fund 
(www.mtnafoundation.org/EndowmentFunds) Spokane Opera: 
509-533-1150, spokaneopera@spokaneopera.org Spokane 
Symphony: spokanesymphony.org/ or call (509) 326- 3136. or an 
arts/music organization of your choice. Arrangements entrusted to 
Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home, 1306 N. Monroe St. in Spokane. 
www.hazenjaeger.net 

Published in Spokesman-Review from June 13 to June 14, 2010