Funeral service for Margaret Elizabeth English will be 2 p.m., Wed., May 27, at First United Methodist Church with Dr. Ray Crawford officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery under the direction of MMS-Payne Funeral Home & Cremation Service. Visitation will be held at the funeral home Tues. 1-8 p.m., and family will greet friends 6-8 p.m.
Margaret passed away Sun., May 24, 2015, at St. John Hospital, Tulsa, after suffereing a stroke while gardening at her home in Claremore on May 14. She was 97 years old.
The daughter of Joe Long and Viola Mae (Riley) Long was born on Dec. 18, 1917, in High Prairie in Nowata County. Margaret attended a one room school in High Prairie from 1923-1931, and graduated from Nowata High Schoolin 1935. She then continued her education at Hills Business University in Oklahoma City and graduated with honors in 1938. After graduating Margaret went to work for the YMCA in Oklahoma City and served as an executive secretary for J.B. White, the executive director.
In 1946, Margaret married the love of her life, Otis Dave English. They made their first home in Blackwell. Margaret and Otis had their child, Linda Lou, who died at birth on Dec. 22, 1950. She also gave birth to two sons, David in 1952, and Stephen in 1953. The family moved to Claremore in 1968. In addition to raising their two sons, Margaret was also a member of the Quest Club where she served as the club's secretary. Margaret belonged to the Claremore Hospital Auxiliary from 1969-2009. She was a chartered member who gave 40 years of service and is honored in the "Open Hearts, Helping Hands" display at Claremore Regional Hospital.
Margaret worked on the election board as a precinct election board judge. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Claremore, where she enjoyed participating in various activities at her church.
Her hobbies included gardening, sewing, and cooking. Her greatest love was helping and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Margaret is survived by her children: David English of Claremore, and Steve English and wife, Jamie of Kansas City; 10 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren.