IN MEMORIAM
EXPANDED EULOGIES
Margaret Boone
Rosary and Mass of Christian Burial for Margaret Mary Boone, 96, who died Feb. 4 at Bridge Haven Oma’s House in Lawrence, were scheduled for Feb. 10 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Derby.
Mary was born Leap Day, 1924, in Zenda, to Henry Christian and Theresa Mary (Bencken) Mertens. She was the fifth-born and last surviving of their 13 children. Margaret passed away peacefully in her sleep on Feb. 4, 2021 at Bridge Haven Oma’s House in Lawrence.
Margaret’s family moved 13 times before she was 18 years old. When the depression hit the family moved to Kit Carson County Colorado. It would become one of the areas hardest hit by the dustbowl.
In late 1935, they moved to Washington State to be near family.
They returned to Kingman County, Kansas in 1936.
Margaret graduated eighth grade with honors and a basketball letter in May 1939. Instead of starting high school, she stayed home to care for her mother who had cancer, until her death on Feb. 5, 1940.
Her father worked at Boeing and farmed, leaving much of the care for the eight younger children to Margaret. In 1943, when the youngest started school, she joined her father on the two-hour drive to work second shift at Boeing as a riveter.
One Thanksgiving Day she met a handsome soldier, George Tingley Boone. When he agreed to accompany her to Christmas Mass, she knew he was the one. They married on Groundhog Day.
Being an Army wife meant more moving until George returned from Korea, took a job at Boeing and they made Derby home.
In 1955, they became the first and only owners of 1144 El Paso St. where they raised their family until George’s death Feb. 1, 1983.
Margaret cherished living in one house for 60 years. She was a Boy Scout, Girl Scout, and 4-H leader; enjoyed league bowling, square dancing, being active in St. Mary’s Altar Society, and a member of the Rosie the Riveter Association. She was honored to be chosen to represent all her fellow Rosies in Lawrence’s Veterans Day Parade in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
She could see an outfit at the store and make it without a pattern. Her lemon meringue pies were legendary and often requested by Bishop Maloney when he came to town.
She earned her GED in 1977 with the highest score in Kansas that year.
Above all, her greatest joy was caring for children, from siblings, nieces, and nephews through great-grandkids to the other residents at Oma’s House who had become children again—she took care of them all.
Margaret survived breast cancer at 91 and COVID-19 at 96.
She is survived by sons Clifford (and wife, Elaine) of Conway Springs and Charles (and wife, Suzanne) of Jennings, Missouri; daughters Susan (and husband, Mark) Reiske of Lawrence and Sharon James of Marion; former daughter-in-law Carol Boone of O’Fallon Illinois; grandchildren Christphor (and wife, Misti) Boone, Rebbecca (and husband, Kevin) Zoglmann, Lori (and husband, Aaron) Vierthaler, Julie Weinacht, Jason Boone, Jennifer (and husband, Russell) Goble, Christine Watson, Nichole (and wife, Sarah) Reiske, Henry (and wife, Laura) Reiske, Dominick Reiske, and Charlotte James; great-grandchildren Austin (and wife, Jessica), Hayden, Reggie, Brielynn, Dennis, Neal, Emma, Sydney, Bridget, Eden, Reagen, Phillip, Patrick, Nicholas, Andrew, Noelle, Ben, Carly, and Loren. She was preceded in death by brothers John, Herman, Joseph, Charles, James, and Bernard; sisters Eleanor Hageman, Odelia Stevenson, Clara Murray, Maryann Martin, Agnes Daniel, and Theresa Ward; and daughter-in-law Toni Boone.
Visitation was scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 10, at Smith Family Mortuary, 1415 N Rock Road, Derby KS 67037.
The Rosary was scheduled for 10 a.m. Feb. 11, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 2300 E Meadowlark St, Derby KS 67037.
Memorials have been established with St. Mary’s Altar Society in care of Smith Family Mortuary.