Margaret Boone

Margaret Mary Boone was born Leap Day, 1924, in Zenda, KS to Henry Christian and Theresa Mary (Bencken) Mertens. She was the 5th born and last surviving of their 13 children. Margaret passed away peacefully in her sleep on February 4, 2021 at Bridge Haven Oma's House in Lawrence.

Margaret's family moved 13 times before she was 18 years old. When the depression hit the family moved to Kit Carson County Colorado. It would become one of the areas hardest hit by the dustbowl. In late 1935 they moved to Washington state to be near family. They returned to Kingman County Kansas in 1936. Margaret graduated the 8th grade with honors & a basketball letter in May 1939. Instead of starting high school, she stayed home to care for her mother who had cancer, until her death on February 5, 1940. Her father worked at Boeing & farmed, leaving much of the care for the 8 younger children to Margaret. In 1943, when the youngest started school, she joined her father on the 2-hour drive to work 2nd shift at Boeing as a riveter. One Thanksgiving Day she met a handsome soldier, George Tingley Boone. When he agreed to accompany her to Christmas Mass, she knew he was the one. They married on Groundhog Day. Being an Army wife meant more moving until George returned from Korea, took a job at Boeing & they made Derby home. In 1955 they became the first & only owners of 1144 El Paso St where they raised their family until George's death on February 1, 1983. Margaret cherished living in one house for 60 years. She was a Boy Scout, Girl Scout & 4-H leader; enjoyed league bowling, square dancing, being active in St. Mary's Alter Society & a member of the Rosie the Riveter Association. She was honored to be chosen to represent all her fellow Rosie's in Lawrence's Veterans Day Parade in 2017, 2018 & 2019. She could see an outfit at the store & make it without a pattern. Her lemon merengue pies were legendary & often requested by Bishop Maloney when he came to town. She earned her GED in 1977 with the highest score in KS that year. Above all, her greatest joy was caring for children-from siblings, nieces & nephews through great-grandkids to the other residents at Oma's House who had become children again-she took care of them all. Margaret survived breast cancer at 91 & COVID-19 at 96.

She is survived by sons Clifford (Elaine) of Conway Springs and Charles (Suzanne) of Jennings, MO; daughters Susan (Mark) Reiske of Lawrence and Sharon James of Marion; former daughter-in-law Carol Boone of O'Fallon IL; grandchildren Christphor (Misti) Boone, Rebbecca (Kevin) Zoglmann, Lori (Aaron) Vierthaler, Julie Weinacht, Jason Boone, Jennifer (Russell) Goble, Christine Watson, Nichole (Sarah) Reiske, Henry (Laura) Reiske, Dominick Reiske and Charlotte James; great-grandchildren Austin (Jessica), Hayden, Reggie, Brielynn, Dennis, Neal, Emma, Sydney, Bridget, Eden, Reagen, Phillip, Patrick, Nicholas, Andrew, Noelle, Ben, Carly and Loren. She was preceded in death by brothers John, Herman, Joseph, Charles, James & Bernard; sisters Eleanor Hageman, Odelia Stevenson, Clara Murray, Maryann Martin, Agnes Daniel & Theresa Ward; daughter-in-law Toni Boone.

Visitation will be 1 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, February 10th at Smith Family Mortuary, 1415 N Rock Road, Derby KS 67037. The Rosary will be 10 a.m. Thursday, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 2300 E Meadowlark St, Derby KS 67037. Virtual attendance link: youtube.com/user/saintmaryderby. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Mary's Alter Society in care of Smith Family Mortuary