Margaret
A. Witt Wortham
22 AUGUST 1934 - 24 FEBRUARY
2013
Margaret was born
in St. Joseph, Missouri, to German immigrants, George and Martha (Snyder) Witt.
She spoke only German until she enrolled in school, where she learned English.
She passed away peacefully at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital - WNJ, in
Sherman, Texas after battling numerous illnesses over many years.
She
moved to Sherman in 1944 with her family when her father, George Witt, was
transferred to Sherman by his employer, Quaker Oats. In Sherman she attended St.
Joseph's Academy, which is now St. Mary's Catholic School, through ninth grade and graduated
from Sherman High School. Shortly after graduation, she began working in the
office at Quaker Oats, a position she held off and on until the early 1960's.
On 4 February 1955, in El Paso, Texas, she married Paul Wortham of Tom Bean, a
soldier who was stationed at a local Army Post. A short time later Paul was
transfer and they moved to Pirmasens, Germany, where Paul was
stationed.
While living in Germany they took full advantage of the
opportunity to travel all over Europe, sightseeing and visiting relatives.
After they returned to Sherman, she resumed work at Quaker Oats for a few
years before she began to raise her family.
She served as home room mother
for each of her children's classes and in seemingly any other volunteer position
needed at St. Mary's School, Sherman.
In the early 1970's she began
attending East Texas State University in Commerce, Texas, commuting from Sherman
while continuing to raise her family. After graduation from East Texas, she
taught kindergarten at St. Mary's Catholic School for several years. After she
stopped teaching, she began working on the cemetery committee at St. Mary's
Church.
She took several trips to Germany over the years and researched and wrote a book
about her family in Germany going back several generations. She always enjoyed
family birthday parties and other celebrations at her family's farm east of
Sherman and eventually built a house at the farm. She was a lifelong member of
St. Mary's Catholic Parish
in Sherman.
She is survived by her husband Paul Wortham of Sherman, her
son Larry Wortham of Ida, Texas, son and daughter in law Michael and Melissa
Wortham of Dallas, daughter Lisa Wortham of Flower Mound, grandchildren Hassie
and Witt Wortham of Dallas and Kevin, Brian and Zach Castillo of Flower Mound,
sister and brother in law Janet and John Raines of Denison, Texas and nieces
Cathy, Cindy and Christy and their families.
A Rosary will be recited by
Deacon Albert Miller at Waldo Funeral Home in Sherman on Wednesday, 27 February
27, at 6:00 p.m. with a visitation following at 7 p.m.
Graveside funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 28, 2013, at
St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Sherman, the Reverend Antonio Aureus
officiating.
The family would like to thank Drs. Bradley Rue, David
Davis, and Muqdad Zuriqat, all of the nurses and attendants that helped her
during her numerous stays at Wilson N. Jones hospital, and all of her nurses and
caregivers at Integracare and Homeinstead, especially Wendy Morgan.
The
family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary's
Catholic School, 713 South Travis Street, Sherman, Texas 75090-7934.
Waldo Funeral Home, was
entrusted with funeral arrangements.