Marguerita Spencer (nee MacQuarrie) was born 28 December 1892 in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. She received her early musical education in Glace Bay and Halifax's Academy of Music, Lady's College. From 1918-1921 Marguerita trained as a nurse at Toronto General Hospital. Shortly after graduation in 1921, she married R.A. Spencer, who had recently been appointed Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. In Saskatoon, Marguerita continued her musical education, locally with Lyell Gustin, and in Montreal at McGill's Department of Music, where she earned a L. Mus. degree. Spencer was extremely active in the Saskatoon music community: playing organ or singing in the choir for a number of churches; performing with the Saskatoon Symphony and on CBC radio; and teaching. She was both a gifted player and a composer of music, with several published songs and suites for voice, string quartets, piano, and cello to her credit.