Margaret Maynard

Our precious wife, mother and grandma completed her earthly journey on August 8, 2021 entering her heavenly home and hearing the words, "Well done, Margaret, well done." She was beautiful and wonderfully made, dearly loved, and irreplaceable. Margaret was born January 1, 1944 to Coy and Verna Freeman in McAlester, OK. She loved to tell people she was a New Year's baby. She was the third of four children, having a sister MaryJo and brother Coy when she was born. Margaret enjoyed being the baby of the family until she was 12. In 1956, 3 days after her birthday her father passed away, but the family was blessed three months later with the birth of her brother George, completing their family. She also grew up with a close group of friends who referred to themselves as "the tribe" and still enjoyed getting together into adulthood. Margaret remained loyal and proud of her hometown and being a McAlester Buffalo, graduating in 1962. She was known to voice how much bluer the sky was during family trips as they drove into Pittsburgh County. Margaret was a life long Methodist, attending Grand Avenue Methodist Church while growing up. She said more than once, if the doors were unlocked the Freemans were there. Later in life she was active in the United Methodist Church in Weatherford, Sunnylane Methodist Church in Del City and a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Purcell since 1978. After high school graduation, Margaret attended East Central University in Ada where she made many friends and created treasured memories. She was a member of a local sorority on campus and became a charter member of Chi Omega when they affiliated with the National organization, serving as the chapter's first Treasurer. You can recognize a proud Chi Omega by the owl decor in their home and hers was no exception. However, the best thing to happen while attending ECU was meeting the love of her life, Jerry, at a college dance. They were married May 29,1965. Together they created a home of fun and laughter for their four children. Margaret could always be found in the bleachers watching a t-ball, softball, baseball or football game when her kids were playing or cheering. If there was a 4-H event, piano recital, band concert or parade she was there too. When the kids were younger, she and Jerry would load up the car and camper and spend time at the lake, sometimes with friends or head out across the country to campgrounds, occasionally going to Galveston and camping on the beach. After retiring, they bought a 5th wheel and spent time in Red River, NM enjoying cooler weather and fishing during the summer. Margaret was a proud housewife and stay at home mother for many years, but she returned to ECU and acquired her teaching degree graduating in 1983. She began teaching at Wayne Schools that fall and retired after teaching for 20 years. Margaret's calling in life was being a mother and she took that same nurturing spirit into her classroom. If you were a student in one of her classes during her tenure of teaching and felt you were special, trust us, you were. Every student was special. During her time of teaching, she made some of her best friends enjoying each other's company outside of school hours eating out and going to movies. For many years it was an annual tradition on New Year's Eve to gather at one of their homes and play games. Margaret loved to sew which included school clothes, dresses for church, 8th grade graduation, a prom dress and college party dresses. Her daughter's dolls and barbies never lacked for a change of clothes and her children and grandchildren spent many Halloween nights, high school and college parties or school plays dressed in her costume creations. She also enjoyed crochet and the blankets and afghans she made will feel like warm hugs from her for years to come. Margaret enjoyed crossword puzzles, crypto quotes, jigsaw puzzles, taking care of her children, spoiling her grandchildren and hanging out with Jerry. Nothing brought Margaret more joy than being with her family and she could count on being with her ever-growing extended family twice a year. Every Thanksgiving, beginning sometime in the 1980s, she and her sister began the tradition of hosting Thanksgiving for the entire family, sometimes the count of people reaching into the thirties. Margaret also looked forward to her family's annual reunion at Robber's Cave which began, the best we can recall, in 1981. Every morning during these trips she could be found outside the cabins gathered with her siblings solving the daily crossword puzzles, sipping her diet coke. Both of these family traditions continued through 2019 and we look forward to resuming them to honor her memory when it is safe to gather again. Margaret will be remembered for her sweet nature, infectious laugh, loyalty, impish grin and having a little bit of sass. Her children have a multitude of memories but her taste in music and teaching them 1950s dance moves, her sense of humor and the funny stories she told about her children growing up, her unique running form and her ability to laugh with us when teased about it, how she loved to create personal birthday cakes for her children, her eery calm while teaching her daughters to drive in a standard when they were not calm, and when it was time to load up and go home her uncanny knack to always remember one more thing that needed to be shown or told to postpone the goodbye are some favorites. Their spouses appreciate how they always felt welcome and happy in her home. Her grandchildren will remember warm hugs, never being denied requests for a rootbeer float, or a moo bar, frequent trips to McDonald's, and Braum's, her patient help with homework, chocolate sheet cake, their crocheted baby blankets that they still enjoy and that any baby in the vicinity always ended up in her lap. Her unending love and support will be missed as we navigate life without her, but we will share her stories and carry her in our heart the remainder of our days. Margaret is survived by her husband, Jerry Maynard, who loved and honored her faithfully the 56 years they were married. He was dedicated and unselfish in caring for her as she slipped away from us due to dementia. He set the standard for a committed and loving husband and gave his children the greatest gift by his example of what it means to love and honor your spouse. She is also survived by her children, Elizabeth and Alan Martin, Roxanne Maynard, James and Tori Maynard, and Jennifer and Lee Brewer along with her seven cherished grandchildren, affectionately known as Lindsay and the 7 grandsons, Lindsay, Cole and Zachary Martin, John and William Gladders, and Van, Seth and Tyler Brewer. She is survived by her sister MaryJo Long and husband Glen, Sister-in-law Cathy Freeman, Brother-in-law Gary Maynard and wife Donna and many nieces and nephews that she adored. Margaret is predeceased by her parents, her brothers Coy and George, and her nephew Andrew Freeman. The family would like to thank Lexington Nursing Home for the compassionate care they provided the past two years. The family appreciates all ways of showing your love and care for Margaret and her family, including cards, calls and flowers but if you prefer making a memorial donation we would suggest The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, www.theaftd.org. Our mother lives now in the stories and memories of those who knew her and we love to hear and read them, please share them with us. Funeral Services are scheduled for 2:00 P.M. Friday, August 13, 2021 at Little's Chapel, Purcell, Oklahoma. You may send online condolences to the family at www.wilsonlittle.com

Margaret Maynard

January 1, 1944 - August 8, 2021