Margaret Oakley was born and raised on a Missouri Farm. She is one of twelve children and the youngest daughter of pioneer parents. She attended the University of Missouri, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Nevada, Reno. She was a Community Health Nurse for Washoe County Health Department for twenty years. She has traveled extensively in the United States, Europe and Asia. She lives in Washoe County near Reno, Nevada with her husband of forty years, Gene Oakley.