Tri-County Citizen

MARGARET LYNDAL (BLAKESLEE) LARNER


 

 

MARGARET LYNDAL (BLAKESLEE) LARNER, of St. Charles Township, 93, passed away in her home on Saturday, December 28, 2019. Her long and full life included loving family and friends, meaningful work and time for any kind of word game. Margaret was born October 23, 1926, the first child of Lyndal B. (Conklin) and Floyd J. Blakeslee. Her family included her sister, Marilyn, and brother, Jerome. They were raised on the banks of the Shiawassee River, where they worked a Jersey dairy farm, and lived in a beautiful home built by their father. Margaret graduated from Chesaning High School and the Saginaw General Hospital School of Nursing as part of the World War II Nurse Cadet Program. Early in her career, she worked for the Saginaw County Health Department. After years as a hard-working farm wife and mother, she returned to nursing in the 1960s and worked at St. Luke’s Hospital, now Covenant. She was a longtime participant in the Nurses’ Health Studies of Harvard Medical School. Margaret was an avid gardener. She was known for her varieties of irises, but after being introduced to the beauty of daylilies by her sister, Marilyn, she gradually transitioned her gardens to daylilies and perennials. She hosted anyone interested on a tour of the gardens. She enjoyed working in her flowerbeds and vegetable garden up until last summer, and especially enjoyed pulling weeds. A flowerbed could be seen from almost every room in the house. Margaret was also gifted with a beautiful soprano voice. Many hours were spent playing the piano her father gave her, singing traditional tunes and hymns with family and friends. Music and learning were priorities. There may not have been much money, but there was always enough money for music, band instruments, and books. Margaret was an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Chesaning for over 80 years. She was a member of the Chancel Choir and the United Methodist Women. When her children were young, Margaret accompanied the Cherub Choir. She served as a soloist on Christmas Eve and at church events for many years. She was deeply committed to local and global missions and to Christian education. She loved her Lord and she loved her church family.

She married Wesley P. Larner on October 2, 1948. They were loving parents, hard-working dairy farmers, and generous providers for their family: Susan, Gayle, Joseph, Janet (Peter J. Sivia), and John. They were loving grandparents to Christopher Huckeby, Diana Larner Evans, and Kathryn Sivia, and great-grandparents to Tyler, Austin, and Madisyn Evans. She is survived by her sister, Marilyn Larner, brother-in-law, Wayne Nixon, sister-in-law, Helen Philips and many nieces and nephews. Preceding Margaret in her death were her brother, Jerome, grandson Christopher, and her husband, Wesley. Above all, Margaret’s life was blessed by the presence of loving parents, lifelong friends, and her large, extended Larner and Blakeslee families. She loved and was blessed by many nieces and nephews. She thoroughly enjoyed family gatherings, especially when there were little children to cuddle.

Rev. Timothy Woycik will officiate at the memorial service for Margaret, which will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, January 5, 2020, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1629 W. Brady Road (M-57), Chesaning. Her family will be present at the church to greet relatives and friends from 1 p.m. Sunday until time of the memorial service at 2 p.m. Private inurnment will be in Wildwood Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Trinity United Methodist Church in Chesaning, Michigan. Those who wish may light a memorial candle or share a memory at misiukfuneralhome.com.