Margaret "Peg" Courter

Margaret "Peg" Courter, 85, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 9, 2018. She was the daughter of Lucy and John Shackelford, one of six children. Peg was born October 11, 1932, near Springfield, Missouri, but the family moved to Iowa in 1933. Peg attended Cattell Elementary School, Harding Junior High, and graduated from North High with honors. She was Vice President of the Senior Class, Prom Queen, served on the Activities Committee, as well as Editor of the school newspaper and the year book.

Following an enjoyable tenure as Assistant Public Relations/Marketing Director at Capital City Bank, Des Moines, she joined Mid-Continent Industries (Tone Brothers Spices) as a Public Relations Coordinator, editing all the annual reports (three won national awards), newsletters to employees, shareholder reports, and planning the executive special events associated with the soft drink industry. While there, she was co-director of the Miss Teenage Pageant and emceed the televised finals of the event. After leaving Mid-Continent, she became Executive Assistant to Robert H. Harter, Vice President and CEO of Palmer Broadcasting, owner of the WHO Broadcasting Company. One of her responsibilities during that period was to help organize and coordinate WHO-AM’s celebration of the 50th Anniversary featuring Ronald Reagan as keynote speaker, and other celebrity alumni.

Television and movie production had always been an interest and her next endeavor was with Mark IV Productions and Heartland Productions. As Associate Producer/Production Manager, she was involved in the production of twelve feature and two television special action-adventure Christian films where her responsibilities included logistics, budgets, personnel, and special events promoting the films.

Her final career, which she truly enjoyed and excelled at, was as a professional make-up stylist, where she was in demand by many local and national celebrities for print, TV, and film/video projects in the Midwest region. She was selected by Senator Robert Dole to join him on his country-wide primary campaign to be his personal make-up artist during his run for the Presidency in 1986.

Other achievements include: President and Board Member of Advertising Professionals of Des Moines; Founding Board Member of the Des Moines Chapter of Executive Woman International; Board Member of Friends of the Des Moines Ballet; Chapter Member of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul; Vice President of Iowa Better Business Bureau; President/Treasurer of Waveland Village Association; and growing up, she taught Sunday School and summer Bible School classes.

Peg was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Ernest Shackelford; daughter, Cynthea “Cindi” Evans; and son, David E. Courter. She is survived by her son, Kent (Katie) Courter; daughter-in-law, Lesa Courter; seven grandchildren, Kristian, Olivia, Jason (Laura), Paige (Blake), Brandon, Adam and Dani; and her sister, Fran Drake.

A celebration of Peg's life will be held Friday, September 14, 2018 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Gilroy's (Banquet Room), 1238 8th Street in West Des Moines, IA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Kavanagh Hospice in Des Moines in loving memory of Peg.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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