Margaret Guffey

Margaret Louise Guffey, age 97, died Tuesday, July 17 in Lawrence, KS. She was preceded in death by her husband, Warren B. Guffey, in 1997, and her younger siblings, Marilyn and Stanley. Margaret is survived by three sons, Jerry and his wife, Edith (Lawrence), Jim and his wife, Mary (Perry) and Kevin (Meriden), 7 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Margaret was born near Wichita Falls, Texas on June 12, 1921 to Ernest and Marjorie Schaeffer King and moved to Wichita, KS a year later. At the age of 14 the family moved to Topeka and operated a garden farm. She graduated from Seaman High School in 1939 and attended the University of Kansas with her sister Marilyn for 1 ½ years. She then lived in Dallas, TX, Phoenix, AZ and New York City and worked a short time for the War Department during WWII. In 1951 she married Warren Guffey. Margaret and Warren raised their sons and two nephews on a farm northwest of Meriden. At the Meriden United Methodist Church, she taught Sunday school and played the organ for decades. Margaret worked for Topeka’s First Presbyterian Church for 17 years before retiring in 1984. Margaret and Warren lived in Arizona for 10 years before moving to Perry in 1997. She continued to play piano, organ and autoharp at Perry UMC and served in the Foster Grandparent Organization which she enjoyed immensely.

The body was cremated and private internment of her remains will be at Prairie Home Cemetery, north of Topeka. A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 28, at the Perry UMC at 1:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Perry UMC, 220 Oak St. or VNA Hospice at 200 Maine Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.