Hilty art on display at library

Colfax Branch of Whitman County Library now has an exhibit of the window collage art of Margaret Hilty which will be on display during the month of February. Margaret enjoyed drawing and painting as a child and growing up in rural Whitman County with her parents, Wayne and Mary Doty, five brothers and two sisters. She experimented with oil paints, pastels, charcoal and other mediums after entering Colfax High School where she graduated with the class of 1952. After graduation, Margaret worked at the Whitman County Library before marriage and family came along.

Margaret started sewing of all types at an early age, a necessity of farm life and a large family. In 1953, Margaret married her high school sweetheart, Gene Hilty. They enjoyed more than 62 years together and raised four daughters. Mr. Hilty died last year.

While traveling with Gene all over the United States and several countries for draft horse shows and events, Margaret continued to create one-of-a-kind projects for her family and friends. Pictured is her Windows of Life collage. Margaret continued to make many different windows about life, family, experiences and her treasures. She never sold any of these windows but generously gave them to family members who she felt would hold that particular theme most dear to the recipient's heart.