Margaret Maxine Mathews Barger

BARGER, MATHEWS, LONG, CRANSTON, CAMACHO

Posted By: Diane Shough (email)
Date: 4/30/2018 at 13:47:32

“Margaret Maxine Mathews Barger was born Jan. 23, 1913. She was one of the six children of Ray Mathews and Stella Squier Mathews. She was born in Knoxville and had lived all of her life in Osceola with the exception of short times in Murray and Weldon. She died of heart failure Dec. 9, 2007, at Windsor Manor in Grinnell where she had spent the last two weeks. She was 94. Maxine received her education in the Osceola schools, graduating from Osceola High School in 1931. She taught in rural schools in Clarke County for several years, then married Russell Barger on July 21, 1934. She and Russell were the parents of four children, Marie, James, Mary and David. Maxine was quite involved in the Osceola community. She had served as a Girl Scout leader and had been active in the PTA. In 1928, she became a member of the Osceola First Christian Church where she was a longtime Sunday School teacher and active member of the Women’s Fellowship until her health prevented her participation. She was a member of the Rebekah Lodge and a past Noble Grand. She also had belonged to the Garden Club, the Osceola Women’s Club and Nifty Needle Club. After Russell’s death, she began working in the lunchroom at East Elementary School where she was the manager for many years, retiring in 1978. Her interests were varied. She liked to read, to go on picnics, to go for a scenic drive, and she absolutely loved camping and traveling. Times she spent with her family and her flowers were her best times. And she took pictures of it all! She had been athletic as a girl, and even in her seventies and eighties she would shoot baskets and ride a bicycle with her grandchildren. Maxine was “famous” in her family for her Christmas trees and their recycled decorations. She always decorated at home and at school for every holiday. Hosting family dinners in the home where she lived for 65 years was a favorite activity. She thoroughly enjoyed her 90th birthday party, but declining health since that time brought an end to most of her pursuits. She hated giving up her car and losing the ability to give rides to her friends. She was proud of being able to stay in her own home up until two weeks before her death. Maxine was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Russell; brothers, George, Kenneth and Jack and sister, Ruby. Maxine’s memory will be cherished by her children, Marie Long and husband George of Urbandale, James Barger and wife Lu of Woodward, Mary Cranston of Marne and David Barger and wife Kathy of Grinnell; sister, Doris Camacho of Baldwin Park, Calif.; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two step great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; other relatives and a host of friends. All of them will miss her greatly. Funeral services were held Dec. 14, 2007, at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola, the Rev. Neville Clayton officiating.; Special music selections were “Beyond the Sunset,” “In the Garden” and “Nearer My God to Thee.” Organist was Belva White.; Casket bearers were Kathy Potts, Dan Barger, Doug Barger, Debbie Barger, Ann Stillian, Dan Clason, Mike Clason, Jennifer Barger and Ryan Barger. Interment was in Woodburn Cemetery in Woodburn. Arrangements were by Kale Funeral Homes of Osceola and Truro. (Osceola Sentinel-Tribune, Osceola, Iowa, Thursday, 20 December 2007, pg. 3)