"Today is always here,’ said Sethe. ‘Tomorrow, never"

–Toni Morrison, Beloved

She was a leader whose heart, intelligence, and intuition guided her way, often into unknown territory. From going door-to-door lending out books on nutrition to hours spent sharing her knowledge with customers in the stores to being a leader in the grassroots movement to preserve the right to dietary supplement access, and much more, she acted on the things she believed in. She was even inducted into the Natural Products Industry Hall of Legends in 2015.

“She was a fiercely protective mother lioness. If we ended up in her den, we were her family, under her protection,” wrote one Natural Grocers Crew member after her passing. Strong, innovative, compassionate, and wise, she lived the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion every day. She also loved to laugh. And, when Margaret laughed, it filled the space with its resonance—hearty and rich. You couldn’t help but join her. We’d like to sit with that memory for a moment… let the optimism and joy of the woman who co-authored our history wrap us in its warmth.

Her legacy still infuses so many details of how we operate as Natural Grocers. Margaret remains a force of nature to the women who have come after her and those lucky enough to have known her. Her nutritional knowledge, unwavering commitment to the values and causes she believed in, and boundless capacity to love still have an impact. So here’s to all the fierce and fearless women (both binary and non-binary) throughout our Natural Grocers family, our neighborhoods, and our world—fighting for equity and justice in quiet ways and loud ones. We hold deep gratitude for you. We are in awe of your bravery, strength, and compassion.

Thank you, neighbors, for sharing this moment with us. May we all have a Margaret in our lives. Someone whose presence (or memory) envelops us in its warmth... whose laughter gives us hope.

The Isely Family