Margaret Ann Meeker, 87, died following a long illness at 12:40 a.m. Friday, April 12, 2019, at National Healthcare Center in Joplin.
She was born March 18, 1932, near Nowata, Okla., to the late James Staten and Alta Biles Staten. She was the youngest of the six Staten children — Don, Frances, Louise, Mattie and Chloe preceded her in death.
Margaret received degrees in primary education and English while studying at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. It was there — at breakfast on July 4, 1954 — she met the man who would quickly become her husband and lifelong best friend, William "Bill" Meeker. As she joined a group of friends at a table in the cafeteria, he was the only person who stood. They went on a date that night and he proposed a week later.
They were married on Aug. 22, 1954, and moved to Lancaster, Calif., where they both taught elementary school and had three children: Perri Chloe, Camille and David.
When it came to the devotion she held for her family, "driven" would be an apt description. She would wake her children and make breakfast, getting them ready for school before leaving for her own classroom, and would have dinner on the table each evening. Somewhere in her full schedule as mother and teacher, she also found time to make the clothes her children wore each day. Over the years, she was also known to open the doors of the family's home to her children's friends when they needed a place to stay.
In 1971, the family moved to Joplin and Margaret continued teaching elementary school in Neosho.
She and Bill turned their home on North Jackson Avenue into Visages Bed & Breakfast, which they operated from 1988 to 1995. In 1996, they moved to a new home on South Pearl Avenue, where they opened Bit of Eden Bed & Breakfast. At both businesses, guests were always treated as family.
After retirement, she taught for a few years at Joplin's Stapleton Elementary.
Throughout the years, she remained fully committed to caring for her children, even into adulthood, and extended the devoted spirit to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Besides her family and education, Margaret's other great passion was writing. A member of the Joplin Writers Guild, she published two reminiscence works in magazines and worked for many years on an unpublished novel.
Bill, who passed away in 2012, was an accomplished artist. Following his death, Margaret took up painting and could often be found working on a piece at Spiva Center for the Arts or the Local Color Art Gallery.
Though time slowly and cruelly began erasing the memories of the woman she once was, it could do nothing to dull the underlying kindness and compassion she had for others. She had a beautiful smile and a kind word for all, even until the day she passed, and enjoyed visiting with her family and others. While in later years those conversations became somewhat ... let's say "circular and repetitive" in nature, it was always a joy to be in her company.
Margaret was preceded in death by two of her children, Perri Chloe and David Meeker.
She is survived by her daughter, Camille Meeker-Turner; grandchildren Jennifer Hutchison Maness, Scott Meeker, Beth Meeker and Erin Hogue; great-grandchildren Kyler Hutchison, Riley Hutchison, Megan Meeker, Henry Meeker and Allison Maness; and three great-great-grandchildren, Mia, Mason and Aubrey.
Memorial services are planned for 10 a.m. Saturday, April 20, at Parker Mortuary in Joplin. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her name to the Alzheimer's Association.
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