When Christmastime rolled around, Martha P. Hargie had a unique way of sharing the holiday spirit. She slipped Hostess Ho Hos to friends and relatives and watched as they unwrapped the packaged snack cakes. “She enjoyed seeing the reaction,” said her daughter Karin Hargie Anderson. “It made everybody happy.” Mrs. Hargie, 79, who worked as a biochemist at Abbott Laboratories for 41 years and had a knack for numbers, died of complications due to pneumonia Thursday, Feb. 17, in Evanston Hospital. Born in West Palm Beach, Fla., Mrs. Hargie graduated from Florida State University in 1946 with a degree in biochemistry. She earned a master’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Cincinnati in 1948. In 1950 she moved to Chicago with her husband, John Hargie. They raised their two daughters in Wilmette. After a long career with Abbott researching cancer and hepatitis drugs, Mrs. Hargie retired in 1991. In retirement, she assisted the elderly with filling out tax and Medicare forms. “She liked doing mathematical things,” her daughter said. “She kind of regretted not becoming an accountant because she enjoyed working with numbers.” Mrs. Hargie traveled twice a year, visiting places from Mexico to New Zealand, but her favorite spot was Vancouver, where she enjoyed watching the autumn leaves. Survivors also include another daughter, Kirstin, and two grandsons. A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday in St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, 1140 Wilmette Ave., Wilmette.
