Mary Margaret Douglas Boone

BOONE, MARY MARGARET DOUGLAS, age 87, formerly of Homewood, passed away on Sunday, December 22, 2013. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 65 years, Elbert R. Boone, on July 22, 2013. Margaret and her late older brother, David M. Douglas, grew up in Knoxville, TN, raised by beloved grandparents and a devoted aunt, Mary B. Flenniken, after the early death of their parents. Margaret attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and was a member of the academic honor society, Phi Beta Kappa. She was also a talented artist and attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, on a full scholarship. After meeting her future husband on a blind date arranged by their mutual friends, she came home to tell her Aunt Mary “that’s the man I’m going to marry,” and set a course for family life. As she would say, “that’s just what you did” at that time. She was a loving mother who sang beautifully, knew the words to all the verses, played piano, and made art and music every day norms. She wrote effortlessly, creating cherished poems and artful illustrations in letters to her family. Her beauty and talents were accompanied by a down to earth attitude and ready smile. She was a strong advocate for the support and education of her profoundly autistic youngest child, Allen. She joined other parents of disabled children and the late actor, Lloyd Nolan, in Washington, D.C. in the early 1970’s to urge the government for continued funding for special schools and their programs. This effort helped to bring about laws which guaranteed disabled children a free and appropriate public education. Until recently, Margaret was actively involved in the ARC of Jefferson County. She is survived by her daughter, Mary B. Cooper and husband, John, of Birmingham; son, Steven E. Boone and wife, Mary, of Bowling Green, Ohio; daughter, Ellen M. Boone and husband, Harold S. Waller, of Decatur, Georgia; son, Allen D. Boone of Birmingham; granddaughter, Liz A. Harding and husband, Erik, of Birmingham; grandson, H. Davis Waller of Athens, Georgia; and great-grand children Lucas B. Seven, Abigail R. Harding and Jack L. Harding of Birmingham. She also leaves many good friends and distant relatives. The family would like to thank the staff of Elmcroft of Grayson Valley for the care and support they provided during Margaret’s last years. She was loved and cherished by her family and friends and will be deeply missed. Services and internment will be private at Woodlawn Cemetery, Knoxville, TN. Condolences may be sent to Ridouts Trussville Chapel, 1500 Gadsden Road, Birmingham, AL 35235, or online at www.ridoutstrussvillechapel.com.