Margaret Rose Wilson

Margaret Rose (McKelvey) Wilson passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Friday, July 12, 2024, in Waterford, Michigan.

Margaret was born on January 7, 1929, in Hastings, Michigan to Harry and Estella (Harding) McKelvey, the second youngest of 10 children.  Margaret graduated from Hastings High School in 1946 and married her high school sweetheart, Arnold Wilson, in 1949.

Margaret obtained her teaching certificate from Barry County Teacher College in 1948. She taught K-8 in Barry County and 4th Grade in Saginaw County.  She was a tutor and assistant librarian at Cooley Elementary School in Waterford, Michigan for many years.

Margaret was a very gifted and talented artist. She was a skilled seamstress, designing and creating wedding gowns, theatre costumes, and square-dancing apparel and many other fabric works of art.  She was a skilled baker and designer of cakes. Her work included beautiful wedding cakes, novelty cakes, unique birthday cakes, and cupcakes that were both beautiful and delicious. Her skill in painting drew statewide acclaim when her oil painting was selected "Best in Show" at the Michigan State University Home Extension state-wide competition.

Margaret was a dedicated and fierce lover of nature and animals. She was a founding member of the Drayton Plains Nature Center, preserving over 100 acres from housing development. She was an active volunteer for many years using her love of all creatures and nurturing them back to health, so they could be released in the wild. Many, if not all, of her dogs and cats were rescues, which she loved and cared for deeply.

Margaret was very proud of her family. She was passionate in genealogy and spent countless hours researching her family heritage. She was proud of and loved all of her siblings and was especially close to her younger brother Ted (who preceded her in death) and his wife Clara, who survives her. The family's centennial farm, established in 1880 in Barry County, was a great source of pride for her and remains today in the ownership of the Ted McKelvey family.

Margaret loved to travel. Her family would cross the United States in a station wagon and pop-up camper, visiting state and national parks.  She would look for a "special" rock from each state, which she used to make a rock garden at home to serve as a reminder and memoire of her travels. She loved nature and found beauty everywhere she went.  Her favorite trip was when she and Arnold traveled to Hawaii for their 50th Wedding Anniversary.

Margaret and Arnold loved to square dance. They were members of the Clarkston Squares in Clarkston, Michigan for many years. Margaret designed and created their matching outfits, and they enjoyed the square-dancing community.

Margaret was a proud American. She was honored by the Armed Services for her ancestors and family. She believed that less government was better and that all politicians should be held accountable to act with integrity, honesty, and courage to uphold our rights and responsibilities as Americans. Having survived the Great Depression, World War II, numerous recessions, and several other American conflicts of war, she believed America was still the greatest nation on Earth.

Margaret was a Christian, having accepted Christ as a young lady. She prayed daily and worked hard at being a good example for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Magaret was preceded in death by her husband Arnold Wilson (having shared 63 years together), her parents, Harry and Estella McKelvey, siblings LeRoy McKelvey, Clarence McKelvey, Isabella (McKelvey) Bensinger, Arthur McKelvey, Laura (McKelvey) Keller, James McKelvey, Marie (McKelvey) Walters, Margarite (McKelvey) Davis, Ted McKelvey, and son -in-law Gordon Custer.

She is survived by her children Linda Custer, Victoria (Steve Widman), and Kevin (Susie) Wilson; grandchildren Leeah (Steve) Roberts, Matthew (Stephanie) Custer, Megan (Craig) Yeoman, Heather (Carter) Hensley; great-grandchildren Grant Yeoman and Griffin Yeoman.  Her beloved dog "Ladybug" survives and will be cared for by her daughter Linda Custer.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests honorarium donations be made to: Joplin Humane Society, 140 E Emperor Lane; Joplin, MO 64801 or Drayton Plains Nature Center, 2125 Denby Drive; Waterford, Michigan 48329.

Visitation will be at Girrbach Funeral Home, 328 S Broadway; Hastings, Michigan, on Thursday, July 18, 2024, at 12:00 Noon, with a Funeral Service to follow at 1:00 PM, Jeff Williams officiating. This service will be livestreamed at https://fb.watch/tp0l7RPFXr/ . Interment to follow at Wilcox Cemetery. Arrangements by Girrbach Funeral Home. To leave an online condolence visit www.girrbachfuneralhome.net.