Peggy Jean Bishop Guerin, 88, of Huntsville, Alabama, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and “Gigi” to her six great-grandchildren, Peggy greatly valued her family and never wasted an opportunity to shower them with attention and affection.
Peggy was born May 10, 1938, in Kelso, Tennessee to Harris and Rena Bishop. Her family moved to Huntsville two years later where her father began a life-long career with the Merrimack Mill on Triana Blvd. Growing up in the mill village afforded Peggy an idyllic childhood with deep friendships in a safe, secure environment. She walked to Joseph Bradley Elementary School every day and one of her fondest memories was when, at age 10, she was allowed to ride the bus by herself to the downtown public library.
An honor student, she graduated from Butler High School at age 16, having skipped third grade, and landed a job with the State Employment Service after making the highest score in the state on the State Merit Exam.
In 1956, at the age of 18, at an “all-night gospel singing” on Winchester Road, she met the love of her life, Bill Guerin. They married six months later and enjoyed a beautiful 69-year marriage until his death on December 28, 2025. Theirs was a marriage of complete devotion and service towards one another and their family.
Peggy worked as a secretary for the State of Alabama and the Federal Government for ten years before deciding to stay home with her two children. After a few years as a stay-at-home mom, she decided to take a class at UAH, just to see if she liked college. With encouragement and support from her husband, she continued at UAH, graduating with highest honors with a B.A. in English and a minor in French. She was awarded the Distinguished Major Award from the English Department and the Outstanding French Student Award from the French Department. Years later, she returned to UAH to complete an M.A. in English.
Peggy enjoyed a 30-year career teaching English at Huntsville High School, where she served a long tenure as head of the English Department. She also taught part-time at Calhoun Community College. One of her greatest pleasures in retirement was hearing from former students whose lives she had impacted.
Her love of teaching didn’t end when she retired from Huntsville High School. She continued to teach English part-time at Covenant Christian Academy for ten years and also taught sewing classes at several local sewing centers. She enjoyed many years of working with the Martha Pullen Company’s School of Art Fashion.
Peggy’s hobbies included sewing, smocking, heirloom embroidery, crocheting, and reading. She was a life-long patron of Huntsville Public Library, and a skilled bridge player. She loved her Red Hats Club and neighborhood “lunch bunch” get-togethers. She was a member of the Heirloom Smockers of Huntsville and a devoted patron of the arts. As a long-time season ticket holder for Broadway Theatre League of Huntsville, she enjoyed attending productions with friends and family.
In addition to being preceded in death by her beloved husband, Bill Guerin, Peggy was also preceded in death by her parents, Harris and Rena Bishop, her sister, Glenda Pendergraft, and her brother, Leon Bishop.
She is survived by daughters, Jeannie Munger (Russ) and Jan Toomey (Richard); grandchildren, Caroline Taylor (Brandon), Betsy Weldy (Cameron), Andrew Toomey and Davis Toomey; and six great-grandchildren, Savannah, Emma Kate, Jonah, William, Lewis, and Caleb.
Visitation will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Monday, July 6, 2026, at Laughlin Service Funeral Home with the funeral directly following. Burial will be at Valhalla Memory Gardens.
Memorials may be made to the Huntsville Public Library (https://www.hmcpl.org/give).
