Margaret Lorene (McCormick) Williams Gargan, passed away Friday, February 26, 2021, at her home in Hays, Kansas.
She was born October 16, 1915, in Chapman, Kansas to William and Nellie B. (Miller) McCormick. She grew up at the farm south of Chapman and along with her siblings, she attended schools all 12 years in Chapman. She graduated from Dickinson Community High School in 1933. After graduation, Margaret began her career with Southwestern Bell Telephone in Abilene and was transferred to the Hays office in 1936. She married Eugene L. Williams on June 6, 1939 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Chapman. Gene and Margaret lived in Hays until 1946 when they moved to Evergreen, Colorado and raised their daughter, Barbara. Margaret transferred to the Mountain Bell Telephone office from which she retired in 1976. Gene preceded her in death in 1961. On January 6, 1968, Margaret married Justin Gargan at Christ the King Church in Evergreen, Colorado. Justin preceded her in death in 1979.
Margaret was active in community service as a member of the VFW Auxiliary, Telephone Pioneers, Chapman Area Preservation Society, and volunteered with the Red Cross, St. Joseph Hospital in Denver, Colorado and Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.
Family has always been important to Margaret. She would fly out to the Northwest to visit her daughter Barb, son-in-law Mike, and grandchildren. She enjoyed phone calls from her grandchildren and pictures of her great-grandchildren. Being the oldest, Margaret became the matriarch of the family after her mother passed away. Her sister Bernardine lived with Margaret and Gene during her high school years. Margaret was the contact for her brothers during WW11.
Margaret is survived by her daughter, Barbara (Mike) Mahoney, Moscow, ID; step-daughters Kathleen Gargan and Ceil (Gargan) Martinez, and step-son William Gargan; grandchildren Kelly Isakson, Moscow ID; Mickey (Mary) Mahoney, Duffy (Leah) Mahoney, Sandpoint, ID; and Molly Mahoney, Boise, ID; seven great-grandchildren, Cody, Connor and Kendall Jo Isakson, Bailey, Piper, and Millie Mahoney, and Indiana Mahoney, as well as many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Will and Nell McCormick, siblings and spouses, Bernardine (Leonard) Dinges, Thomas (Frieda), Ernest (Betty), William, Harold (Rita), Bernard, and Raymond (Laura) and a grandson-in-law, Pete Isakson.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Thursday, March 4, 2021 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hays, with Fr. Brian Lager officiating. Burial will be at 2:00 pm in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Chapman, with Fr. Fred Gatschet officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Thursday at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. A rosary will be prayed at 9:30 am. The family requests that all in attendance wear masks.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made payable to: St. Patrick's Cemetery or St. Joseph Catholic Church. Condolences and memories of Margaret may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com