Margaret Wakefield's Obituary
Margaret Frances Digby Wakefield, daughter of Newton B. and Lydia Lorena Ellis Long, was born February 25, 1920, in Firth, Nebraska. She departed this life Wednesday, March 15, 2006, in her home, near Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of eighty-six years, and twenty days. In July of 1936, she was united in marriage to Emil Digby, and to this union four daughters were born. Later in her life, she married Oral Wakefield and together they shared nine years before his passing on May 16, 1983. She also was preceded in death by her parents; her former husband, Emil Digby, in 1980; a daughter, Ruby Shrout, in 1993; a granddaughter, Debbie Wade, in 2005; twin grandbabies, in 1982; three brothers, Alexander “Budgey”, Frank, and Theodore “Hoot”; and six sisters, Clara, Daisy, Sally, Lena, Ida, and Jerry. Margaret is survived by three daughters, Raenae Davis, of Falcon, Missouri, Emily Keeton, and her husband, Richard, and Jerry Zebel, all of Lebanon, Missouri; fifteen grandchildren; thirty-seven great-grandchildren; fifteen great-great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Carol Curtright; a number of nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends. She was born the youngest of ten children into the Long family, and shortly after her birth the family moved to Wyoming, where she was raised near Sussex. After Margaret and Emil were married, they made their home in Sussex until moving to Missouri in 1940. Margaret lovingly cared for their four daughters and was a devoted homemaker. In 1962, Margaret moved back to Nebraska where she lived and worked as a cook and waitress for ten years. She then moved to Wyoming where she met and married Oral. For the last twenty years, she had made her home in the Lebanon, Missouri area to be near her daughters. Margaret made her profession of belief in Christ early in her life and followed the Baptist faith. She rededicated her life to the Lord in 2002. She felt that she had lived a full life, especially since she had been able to take a trip to Germany in 1972 to visit her daughter, Ruby, and her family. She liked being outdoors where she enjoyed gardening, hunting, and fishing, but mostly loved to dance and play cards. She was an avid quilt maker and also enjoyed crocheting. Her family was very important to her and she especially enjoyed her grandchildren. Margaret was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, and aunt, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate her life and her accomplishments and will cherish the wonderful memories she created for her family and friends. Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 18, 2006, in the Holman-Howe Chapel, Lebanon. Burial will be in the New Home Cemetery. Visitation will be held Friday evening from 7 - 8:30 p.m. under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Lebanon, Missouri.
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