Lucas Funeral Home-Grapevine
Margaret Elizabeth (Flemister) Wood, dearly loved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, went peacefully to her Lord Jesus Christ on October 13, 2024. She died at her home in Southlake, Texas at the age of 94, surrounded by her children, grandchildren and loyal caregivers, eight years to the day of the death of her beloved husband of 60 years. Viewing and visitation will take place on Thursday, October 17, 2024 from 4 to 6 pm at Lucas Funeral Home in Grapevine. Funeral services will be Friday, October 18, 2024 at 11 am at Countryside Bible Church in Southlake followed by a graveside service at the Grapevine Cemetery.
Born in McKinney, Texas to Grady Gordan Flemister and Mary Ruth (White) Flemister, Margaret was lovingly but strictly raised by her mother and grandmother during the turbulent times of the Great Depression and World War II. Her mother was well known for her beautiful handwork, and her grandmother was a sought-after seamstress, skills that enabled them to provide for Margaret. Their reputation for integrity and careful attention in all their endeavors were traits they instilled in Margaret, who also benefited from the encouraging support of her extended family, church, and community. She accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal savior as a child.
Through her mother, Margaret descended from Collin County pioneer Isaac Graves, who settled in northwest McKinney in 1845, where highways 380 and 75 now intersect. He built a large home there, later inherited by Margaret's great grandmother, Molly (Graves) Cameron. Both Margaret's grandmother and mother were born in the house and Margaret spent many happy times there as a child. The house bore a Texas Historical Medallion until, sadly, it was razed to construct the multi-use development that remains today.
Margaret attended McKinney schools, excelling as a student. She loved to dance and performed in her school band as a majorette. Wishing to play an instrument but fearing her family could not afford both the instrument and uniform, she chose the baton instead. After attending Boyd High School, she graduated with honors from North Texas State Teachers College in 1951. Afterwards, she taught Spanish and English at Grapevine High School. There, on a blind date arranged by friends, she met and fell in love with Charles William Wood. They married on June 15, 1956 in the First Presbyterian Church of McKinney and settled in Grapevine where Charles, a Grapevine native descended from early area families, owned a business with his father on Main Street. After her marriage, Margaret became a full-time wife and mother of four but continued to use her love of learning and teaching to serve and enrich others. Throughout her life, she served her community, local schools, and church in countless ways, assuming leadership roles whenever called upon.
Active church members, Margaret and Charles served Memorial Baptist Church, now Church at the Cross, and later joined Countryside Bible Church. At Memorial, Margaret taught children and teens, and led a Senior Women's Class for over 10 years. She led children in the Bible Memory Association program and served as president of the Women's Mission Society during WMU's 100th anniversary. She taught English as a Second Language both at Memorial and Countryside. A lifelong student of God's Word, Margaret participated in Bible Study Fellowship for many years, studied in various Precept groups and also took advantage of numerous Bible studies offered through her churches.
Margaret also found fellowship as a member of the Bayview Club of Grapevine, established in 1908. She loved this group of women who shared her curiosity for gaining knowledge and keeping the art of social etiquette alive, and who enriched her life through their diversity of gifts and personal experiences. She held many offices, including historian, and served as president again at the age of 90. She loved travel, always endeavoring to learn some of the language of any country she planned to visit. She loved music, particularly musicals and opera. For a time, she had season tickets to both the Dallas and Fort Worth Opera! She loved bridge, a skill she learned in college, and played with a group until age 90.
As a mother, Margaret instilled in her children the values that served her so well as a child. Desiring her children to be "well rounded," she exposed them to many beautiful and wonderful things, often at a sacrifice to herself. She fully embraced her role as grandmother and then great grandmother, cherishing her time spent with family. Most pictures of her later years show Margaret reading to her great grandchildren, instilling in them the same love of learning she still enjoyed.
Her keen intellect, curiosity, and desire to always learn and then to use her knowledge to enrich others will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Margaret was preceded in death by her mother and her husband of 60 years, Charles William Wood. She is survived by her children Randy Wayne Wood and wife Holly of Monument, CO; Mary Claire (Wood) Hutchison and husband Willie of Southlake; Jennifer Diane Wood and husband Robert High of Scottsdale, AZ; and William David Wood and wife Dawn of Flower Mound; grandchildren Margaret Adele (Hutchison) McMillan and husband Collin of South Bend, IN; William Cameron Hutchison and wife Shea of Ft. Worth; Kirsten Nicole Wood of Portland, OR; Matthew James and Christy Anna Wood of Monument, CO; great grandchildren Charles Henry and Schuyler Holmes McMillan; and Chloe Marie and Emma Ann Hutchison. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Countryside Bible Church, Bible Study Fellowship International or Ligonier Ministries.
LINKS
Ft. Worth Star-Telegram
http://www.dfw.com
Memories
Gallery
Guestbook