Margaret McMenemy

Margaret Ann McMenemy Margaret Ann Bagley McMenemy, a Chattanooga native who left for the big cities and returned with an entrepreneurs drive to pursue her love of fashion and style, died in her sleep on Sunday morning, Feb. 2, 2014. Margaret Ann, or M.A. as she was known to many, was born in Chattanooga on July 31, 1928, to Charles Benedict Bagley and Florence Elder Bagley. She is survived by her sister, Florence Bagley Witt, of Chattanooga; and her brother, Charles B. Bagley Jr., of Durham, N.C., as well as a large and loving family including eight nieces and nephews, Elder Witt Wellborn (Stanley), of Washington, D.C.; Mary Alice Wyatt (Jim), of Chattanooga; and Evans Witt (Amy Sabrin), of Washington D.C.; Margaret Bagley Kelley, of Graham, N.C.; Houston Bagley (Stacy), of Wake Forest, N.C.; Mary Wynne Locker (Keith), of Raleigh, N.C.; Davis Bagley of Wilmington, N.C.; Raymond Scott Bagley (Danielle) of Chapel Hill, N.C.; 13 great-nephews and nieces; and one great-great nephew. Margaret Ann was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved brother-in-law, Raymond B. Witt Jr. After an adventurous childhood spent swimming and biking in Chattanoogas Riverview neighborhood, Margaret Ann graduated from Bright School (then on Fort Wood Street), attended Girls Preparatory School, and graduated from City High School. She attended the University of Chattanooga where she was selected as Sweetheart of Sigma Chi and received her bachelors degree from Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla. After graduation, MA married Rollins classmate Jim McMenemy. The couple moved to Stamford and New Canaan, Conn., and Jim worked as an advertising executive on Madison Avenue in New York City. After the marriage ended in divorce, Margaret Ann moved first to Manhattan and then to San Francisco in the early 1960s. Later it was back to New York, where she spent the next 15 years working in advertising, public relations and interior design. In the late 1970s, MA headed back to the South, working in residential real estate in Atlanta and North Carolina. After several years, she returned to Chattanooga to resettle in her childhood neighborhood and pursue her lifelong interest in style and fashion. She helped establish the Reflection Room at Fischer-Evans. Then she opened a fashion boutique, Raiment on Frazier Avenue, working with her friend Caroline Anderson. Her love of beautiful clothes was reflected in her delight in helping customers, friends, and family look their best. After she and Caroline closed Raiment at the end of the 1990s, she enjoyed retirement, staying in touch with friends from all periods of her life and spending time with her beloved pets at home, reading and gardening. A private graveside service will be held at the Bagley family plot. Contributions in memory of Margaret Ann may be made to Hospice of Chattanooga, 4411 Oakwood Drive, Chattanooga, TN37416; the Partnership for Families, Children and Adults, 1800 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga, TN37404, or the pet rescue agency of your choice. Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 East Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN, 37421.