Margaret A. Munro

Maggie Munro, 80, of Santa Barbara, California passed away on December 4, 2025, due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease.

Maggie was born in Gonzales, California in 1945. As a child, someone started calling her “Suzy Q”, and she went by the nickname “Suzy” during the first part of her life. Her father was an agent for the Southern Pacific Railroad, so she lived in the depots in Oceano, Ventura, and Carpinteria. She enjoyed growing up in Carpinteria and graduated from Carpinteria High School in 1963 as a proud Warrior.

After high school she married Benjamin Dacayana, and their daughter Melora was born. The young family moved to Santa Barbara.

Maggie was a self-made woman who loved Santa Barbara. She started her career working as part of the team that opened the Sears store in La Cumbre Plaza. After her divorce from Ben, she spent 10 years as a journalist in the Naval Reserve, continuing a proud tradition of Naval service in her family. She wrote a history of the Naval Reserve in Santa Barbara. Maggie also volunteered for Old Spanish Days and was the first woman on the board of directors. She was a member of Mensa and enjoyed throwing parties for them. Maggie also worked at UCSB, continuing to plan events for the Office of Development. She was able to combine her love of Santa Barbara history and event planning while working at the Santa Barbara Historical Society. Maggie was resourceful and described herself as “Google before there was Google”. She was especially proud of her work at QAD as a marketing events manager. Her work on their Explore conferences in New Orleans and Nashville were highlights of her career.

Maggie was also interested in film history and collected many books on the subject. She enjoyed musicals, especially those starring Gene Kelly. She also had a knack for decorating on a budget with interesting and unusual objects. Maggie once decoupaged an entire refrigerator which became a topic of conversation when people came over.

Most of all, Maggie was a devoted mother to her daughter Melora. Maggie believed in having a life of “experiences”. She enrolled her daughter in theater programs, took her to local events, the bookstore, and drives around the county. In the 70s Maggie bought season tickets to the Pantages (she said they were cheap) so there were day trips to LA. When Melora started performing, Maggie would organize groups of people she called “Melora’s Mob” to see her daughters’ shows. When Maggie married her second husband Ross Atkins, he was transferred to Alabama. Maggie and Melora made several road trips between Alabama and California.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Regency Palms in Oxnard for the loving care she received, hospice nurse Elsie DelaCruz, and Lisa for all her help and check-ins.

Maggie was predeceased by her parents Sallie and Charles Munro, siblings Tom and Sarah Munro, former husband Ross Atkins, and nephew Ted Cabugos Jr. She is survived by her daughter Melora Dacayana Hutton, son-in-law Griff Hutton, grandsons Jinno & Jonel Hutton, and her nieces and nephews.

Maggie is buried at Carpinteria Cemetery. Donations in her memory can be made to the Santa Barbara Historical Society and the Children’s Shelter of Cebu.