Margaret M. Stark

Margaret (Peggy) M. Stark, of Houston, Texas, passed away June 27, 2016 in Austin, Texas. Peggy was the oldest of three children, born June 25, 1917 in Abilene, Kansas to Ernest L. and Helen (Gleissner) Morse. She graduated from Abilene High School in 1935. Peggy attended Western College for women in Oxford, Ohio her freshman and sophomore years and then attended KU her junior and senior years, pledging Kappa Alpha Theta. She graduated from KU in 1939 and taught social studies in Junior High in Eureka, Kansas from 1939-1941.

During WWII, a sorority sister and Peggy departed for San Francisco and both took positions with the Army Corps of Engineers. Peggy worked in the Travel and Transportation Department initially, but was later transferred to the Classification and Wage Administration Department. Peggy travelled up and down the west coast and her department audited 10,000 jobs. This was a very exciting time in Peggy's life and the family often heard about her "San Francisco" days.

In 1948, Peggy moved to Denver and took a position with B.K. Sweeney Co. She met Henry L. Stark through her brother, Ernie. They were married October 30, 1948 in Abilene, Kansas. Henry and Peggy were married for 63 years. They spent their first fifteen years of marriage in Denver and lived in Park Hill. In 1963, Henry was transferred to Houston and they moved into a new home in Fonn Villas. They lived in that home for over 40 years. Most near and dear to Peggy was her family. She loved spending time with her family and always made the holidays a special time for all.

Peggy was a stickler for proper English. Peggy loved to read, play bridge, and was a member of the Fonn Villas Garden Club. Peggy had an amazing memory and was often called upon for help with obscure history facts and mythology. Peggy always said, "If you can't say anything nice about someone, don't say anything at all." She said it and lived it. Peggy was careful in giving advice, but always willing to be a sounding board.

Peggy is survived by her daughters, Deborah S. Highbarger, Nancy S. Stevenson, and Janet Stark; her grandchildren: Christin K. Atkinson, Tera T. Hogan, Lindsay S. Atkinson, Catherine L. McClain, and Lauren A. Atkinson; and her great grandchildren: Jacob Ainsley, Bridget Ainsley, and Winter McClain. She was preceded in death by her daughter Judy, her parents, her twin brothers, Ernest A. and Paul G. Morse, her great grandson William H. McClain, and her loving husband Henry.

A family service will be held in Weed-Corley-Fish funeral home on July 18, 2016 at 2pm.