Margaret Louise Recknor

Margaret Louise Recknor, was born on July 29, 1906 in Creston, Iowa to Guy and Bessie (Pickerill) McCornack. She married her childhood sweetheart, Randall “Butch” Recknor on January 7, 1927 living for a number of years in Creston where their sons, Berton Dean and Robert Bruce were born. They then moved to Morrisonville, Illinois and to Afton, Iowa where their third son, Norman Duane was born. In 1948 Randall and Margaret moved to Mtn. Grove, Missouri and in 1969 made a final move to Norwood, Missouri. Margaret and Randall were married for forty-seven years until his death in 1974. Margaret’s health required her to move to Virginia to be with her sons, Bob and Norm, in 2003. She passed away on April 24, 2007 at her sons’ home in Stanardsville, Virginia at 100 years, 8 months, and 25 days of age.
Randall and Margaret were butchers by trade doing much of their work on customer’s farms. Randall worked at Henry Harris’ store and Dishman’s Slaughter House. Later they cut and wrapped meat at Elliott’s Supermarket. Margaret always wanted to be a nurse. She was a midwife throughout her life and later an LPN at the Mtn. Grove Nursing Home for many years. Margaret was very active at the Norwood Baptist Church as the church organist and pianist, as well as a participant in her Sunday School class until moving to Virginia in 2003. She was the neighborhood guardian for the young and old while residing at Bradwood Villa apartments in Norwood. She made chocolate pies, and yeast rolls for the annual Se-Ma-Mo and Norwood Eastern Star where she was a member, and a civic leader. She also loved animals and was the Grand Marshall in the 1994 Norwood Farmer’s Day Parade.
Margaret was raised to save Sunday for attending church and reading scripture and she followed those rules her entire life. She loved to crochet and do handwork but never on Sundays, and she also made her own clothes until she was in her 90’s. She continued to read many books, cook, bake, and keep up her correspondence.
She was asked on her 95th birthday what was the greatest event and the worst thing that had occurred in her lifetime. She replied that the widespread use of electricity was undoubtedly the greatest, and the breakdown of the family was the worst. Family and extended family were the most important part of her life. It was her understanding and love of life and her humor that made people gravitate to her as they reached out for her comfort.
Besides her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by two granddaughters: Sandra Kay in 1973 and Christine Michelle in 1992.
She is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law: Berton Dean and Leota Recknor of Bolivar, Missouri, Robert Bruce and Kay Recknor of Auburn, Alabama, Norman Duane and Carol of Stanardsville, Virginia; ten grandchildren; twenty-great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends who will sadly miss her.
Funeral services for Margaret Recknor were held Saturday, April 28, 2007, 10:00 AM in the First Baptist Church with Rev. Steve Fugitt officiating. Ronnie Atchison, Craig Schmied, and Mark Fugitt served as musicians. Song selections were “What A Friend,” “Amazing Grace.” Pallbearers were James Bradshaw, Ura Hardin, Willard McCarty, Ronnie shores, Donnie Forrest and Bob Chadwell. Honorary pallbearers were Steve Dobbs and Jerry England. Burial was in the Thomas cemetery under the direction of the Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home, Mtn. Grove, Missouri.