Maggie Cottam Petty was born in St. George, Washington County, Utah on 21 September 1886, the seventh of twelve children born to George Thomas and Rachel Holt Cottam. As a child, Maggie developed a strong work ethic as she worked on a farm and attended school. She contracted Peritonitis at the age of twelve and had to remain in bed for weeks. When Maggie was sixteen, she lived with her sister, Annie, who needed help with her three children and large garden while her husband was away. In 1904, Maggie graduated from Woodward High School. She worked as a piano and school teacher until 1908, when she married Charles B. Petty on 25 June. Soon after their marriage, her husband bought Zion Mountain Sawmill. While he operated the mill in the summer, Maggie cooked for the crew and milked the cows. During the winter, she and her husband taught school at Virgin City and participated in a community play. In 1909, Maggie's husband was called on a two-year mission to England. While he was gone, Maggie gave birth to their first child and stayed with her parents in St. George. When her husband returned on 25 August 1911, they moved to Deseret, Millard County, Utah, where he taught school and worked as the principal. Two years later, they moved to Hurricane, Utah and owned and operated a mercantile store, theatre, drug store, and auto mechanics shop. In 1927, Maggie and her husband moved to Cedar City, Utah so that their five children could get a better education. After nine years, they moved to Salt Lake City. Besides raising five children and serving in nearly every organization of the L.D.S. Church, Maggie served as the Secretary for the Woman's Civic Club, Vice-Captain for the Yale Camp of Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, and member of the Flower Club, Salt Lake Mother's Club, and Singing Mothers Group. In her older years, Maggie enjoyed working in the temple, doing genealogy, and traveling. On 28 July 1972, Maggie and her daughter, Utahna, were killed in an auto accident when they were on their way to visit Cedar City, Zion, and St. George.