Margaret ‘Peggy’ Mayhill

September 10, 1920-October 19, 2018

Margaret Anne “Peggy” (Kreisle) Mayhill died peacefully the morning of Oct. 19, 2018, at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis, at the age of 98.

She was born Sept. 10, 1920, in Tell City, Ind., to John D. “Jack” and Ruth Kreisle. She was the eldest of four children. The family owned and operated Kreisle Manufacturing Co., a lumber mill that produced, among other things, porch swings for Sears & Roebuck.

Peggy graduated from Tell City High School in 1938 and Hanover College in 1942 with a B.A. degree in English. She was in the school band, played sports and was the head cheerleader at both Tell City and Hanover, where she was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority. She went on to earn her master’s degree from Earlham College.

She met Navy Lt. Commander R. Thomas “Tom” Mayhill in the summer of 1944 during World War II on a train ride from Union Station in Indianapolis to Louisville, Ky. They were married later that year, on Dec. 26, in Tell City.

She taught English at Troy High School near her hometown of Tell City while he served his country in the Navy. After the war, the Mayhills moved to Hoopeston, Ill. where he was assistant publisher of the Hoopeston Daily Chronicle-Herald. They then moved to Camden, Ind., after purchasing the Camden Record-News.

In late 1946, they purchased the Knightstown Banner and in 1955 they started the weekly Eastern Indiana Farmer (now Farm World). In 1968, they launched the Tri-State Trader (now AntiqueWeek), an antiques publication serving Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, which became a nationally recognized publication. Peg’s love of antiques and auctions led to the start of AntiqueWeek.

Peggy and her friend Jo Carter were instrumental in securing the Knightstown Gym as the home gym of the Hickory Huskers, bringing it to the attention of the producer and director of “Hoosiers,” after reading about the film studio’s search in 1986 for a 1950s gym in the Indianapolis Star.

She taught English at Charlottesville High School from 1960-63 and served as the Knightstown school librarian from 1963-73, when she opened a bookstore, the Bookmark, on the town square in Knightstown. It was open from 1973-2010.

Peggy and Tom were active in book preservation and reprinting. She shared Tom’s passion for history, birds, Purdue University, historical preservation, books, spending time in Sanibel Island and love for their country. Peggy and Tom spent time at their home on Lake Wawasee creating many memories for their children and grandchildren, and loved traveling, particularly to Germany and England. Peggy took her last trip to Scotland and England in 2015.

She also was an active member of Daughters of American Revolution (DAR), Shakespeare Club, Tri Kappa, Glen Cove Cemetery board, Knightstown Library board and founding member of Historic Knightstown.

The Mayhills purchased what became the Hoosier Gym to save it from demolition. They then donated it to Historic Landmarks for preservation. Today the gym, in addition to serving as a museum for the movie “Hoosiers,” hosts high school teams from as far away as New York & Mississippi for games. When not hosting games the gym is open for individuals to attempt their best “Jimmy and Ollie” shots.

Peggy was preceded in death by grandson Robert Long in 1993; her husband of 67 years, Tom, in 2012; and brother Bill Kreisle in 2017.

She is survived by sisters Joanne Duran and Kristine Harder; children Julie Long (Dan), John Mayhill (Sally), Janice Menke (Denny Dicke) and Merry Thoe (Gary); grandchildren Molly (Long) Bain, Katie (Long) Moore, Billy, Jenny and Hunter Menke, Christy (Menke) Traub, Andy, John, Ruthanne and Corby Thoe, Emily (Mayhill) Shoop and Tommy Mayhill; and 18 great-grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Heritage Funeral Home in Knightstown with the calling and funeral being held at the Knightstown United Methodist church on Oct. 26. Friends may visit the church from 10 a.m.-noon with the funeral following at 1 p.m. in the church.

Burial will follow at Glen Cove Cemetery. Those who plan to attend upcoming services may check www.heritagefuneralcares.com for further information.

Contributions can be made to: Hoosier Gym, 355 N Washington St, Knightstown, IN 46148; Historic Knightstown, 22 N. Washington St., Knightstown; or United Methodist Church, 27 S Jefferson St, Knightstown.