Margaret J. (Hill) Barnes, 77, passed away at her home in Methuen, Massachusetts after a long illness battling pancreatic cancer surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, August 30th, 2007. She was born to Robert J. & Margaret (Fulkerson) Hill in Lawrence, Massachusetts and she was educated in Central Grammar School in Methuen, MA. She was a graduate from Edward F. Searles High School Class of 1949, and attended Northeastern University & Northern Essex Community College. She was employed by the late Edward A. Derby, M.D. and local thoracic surgeon William A. Cook, M.D. as office manager until her retirement in 1995. Peggy was a certified medical assistant and held many positions in the Merrimack Valley Chapter of medical assistants and also the Massachusetts Society of Medical Assistants. She was elected a national trustee for the American Association of Medical Assistants, and served on the curriculum review board, and was a surveyor for colleges applying for national accreditation of the Certified Medical Assistant. She was on the board of Directors at Northern Essex Community College. She was also President of Massachusetts State Society of Medical Assistants. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Fidelity Chapter Order of Eastern Star.According to her family she loved to spend summers in Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire and loved her winters in Florida.She leaves her loving husband retired Lawrence Fire Captain Lawrence E. Barnes, Jr. her daughters; Janet-Lee Ratcliffe of Methuen, Nancy Jane and her husband Dr. Richard Blase of Worcester, MA. Alice and her husband Kenneth Perron of Worcester, MA; Carolyn Stockwell Vargas of New York. Step Children; Gail and her husband John Pickles, Patricia and her husband James DeRoche and Lawrence E. Barnes III and Maryann Rainville all of Methuen, MA. She is survived by many loving grand children and great grand children, and her brother Robert B. Hill of Sunapee, New Hampshire. As well as several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her step son James E. Barnes. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her and who love her, she was a loving free spirit who has been freed.A funeral service will take place on Wednesday, September 5th, 2007 at 2:00PM in St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Methuen, MA. Friends may call on Tuesday, September 4th, 2007 from 4:00PM to 8:00PM at the John Breen Memorial Funeral Home Inc. 122 Amesbury Street, Lawrence, MA.In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be sent to: Merrimack Valley Hospice, 360 Merrimack Street, Lawrence, MA. 01841.