Margie Realph (Buffalo)'s Obituary
Margie Eleanor (Scott) Realph passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 20, 2023, surrounded by her loving family at her home in Gladstone, Missouri. She was born in the small town of Windyville, Missouri on October 26, 1921, to Herbert Huston Scott and Effie Inez (Chapman) Scott. The family owned and operated the Windyville General Store, established in 1916.
After graduating from Buffalo High School, Margie attended Southwest Missouri State University (now MSU) in Springfield, Missouri, and Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri, before making her way to Kansas City during WWII and getting a job with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It was there, she met the love of her life, Norman Woodrow Realph, who had been recently transferred with the FAA to Kansas City from Denver. The story goes that a mutual friend told Margie to have someone “look up” Norman when he arrived in Kansas City. The report was that he was nice looking, but he was thinning on top and wore white socks. Margie’s response was, “I can work with that”. And she did. Margie and Norman were married six months later, on January 17, 1948. They had four girls: Nancy Ann, Sara Beth, Christine Lynne, and Cynthia Joyce.
Norman and Margie were transferred several times with the FAA. They lived in Des Moines, Denver, Tacoma, Oklahoma City, Blytheville, and then back to Oklahoma City before settling in Kansas City North. Margie lived a full life and relished being a lifelong learner. She sang with the Sweet Adelines and in the choir at Grace Baptist Church where she and her family were founding members. Throughout her life, Margie was active in Toast Mistresses, the PTA, Girl Scouts, the P.E.O. Sisterhood, the North Kansas City Hospital Auxiliary, the Grace Baptist Board of Christian Education, grief support groups, and many, many continuing education classes. She took up ballroom dancing in her 60s and danced so much she broke her foot. Margie was also an excellent seamstress and sewed clothes for her girls, including prom dresses and winter coats.
Even though Margie experienced her share of challenges, she consistently chose happiness, inspiring those around her with her positive outlook on life and leaving a legacy for the generations to come.
Though Margie left Windyville, Windyville never left Margie. Even in her late 90s, she was able to visit her beloved hometown. She loved drinking coffee on the porch, watching the birds, and cooking hot dogs over the campfire. She joined the family to float the Niangua River for her 95th birthday and made many trips to Bennett Spring State Park, which brought back cherished memories. At 101 years old, she reminisced about Windyville, sharing stories on a daily basis with her family and caregivers.
Margie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her siblings, Herschel and Luvaine; and her daughters Nancy (husband Gary survives) and Sara Beth.
She is survived by her daughters Christine Baudoin (husband Charles) and Cynthia Larson. She leaves behind her beloved grandchildren, Cara Beth Brooner (husband Jared), Chad Michael Baudoin (wife Lindsey), and Matthew Scott Larson. Also left to cherish her memory are her great-grandchildren, Beckett, Emmett, Chloe, Campbell, Hudson, Aubrey, and Brody.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are asked to be sent to Grace Baptist Church at 3101 NE Vivion Rd. Kansas City, Missouri 64119.
A graveside service will be held at 11 am on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at Lone Rock Cemetery in Windyville, Missouri. Pastor Caleb McClure officiating. Following the graveside service, Margie will be laid to rest beside Norman.
A memorial service will be held at Grace Baptist Church 3101 NE Vivion Rd. Kansas City, Missouri 64119 at 2pm on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, to celebrate her life and the happiness she brought to those around her.
Arrangements are under the direction of Cantlon-Otterness and Viets Funeral Home, Buffalo, Missouri.
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