Margaret Jewell Meservy

Long time Klamath Falls resident Margaret Jewell Meservey, nee Skillings, 85, passed away on February 15, 2019 in Webster, Texas.  Her passing was after 5 plus years of suffering with Alzheimer’s disease.  She was cremated and a service was held on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at 2:00 PM CST.  Jeter Memorial Funeral Home of Friendswood, Texas handled the service.

Margaret was born on July 11, 1933 in Farmington, Maine to Charles Winthrop Skillings and Mary Cordelia Pierce Skillings. Margaret was the proverbial farmer’s Daughter.  She graduated from Strong High School in 1952 from a class size of 9. After high school Margaret joined the U.S. Air Force where she served for 3 years.

 During her service as a WAF, she was stationed at Edwards AFB, California.  One day she passed a gentleman on base who tickled her fancy. That gentleman was Ralph Meservey.  The attraction was mutual. After a courtship of a few years, including her two years at Farmington State Teacher’s College, Margaret and Ralph were married in Carson City, Nevada on July 3, 1958. Mom always said, “He chased me, until I caught him.” They were married for 43 years before Ralph’s passing from Alzheimer’s disease on January 28, 2002.  Margaret & Ralph brought two sons into the world, Michael John in 1961 and Robert Louis in 1963. Both were born at the Travis AFB Hospital.

As Margaret followed Ralph’s military service, from Travis AFB in California to Andrews AFB in Maryland, to his last duty station at Kingsley Field AFB in March 1967; she did so by working as a Federal civil servant.  As a matter of fact, she was a civil servant for over 30 years.  In all of those years, she would have one job that she enjoyed above all others.  She was the librarian for Kingsley Field AFB.  She held that position from February 1972 until the closing of the base late in 1978.  Margaret received a Special Achievement Award for her efforts. She would have worked as the librarian longer had it not been for the closing of the base.  She fought the base closing  “tooth & nail,” for the fact that Kingsley Field was Oregon’s only military installation, and that Oregon was the only state that had stateside casualties from enemy actions during World War II.  Her point was that George AFB in Southern California was a going to be the only tactical AFB on the West Coast with the closing of Kingsley Field. Needless to say her efforts were for nigh.  Margaret, though, persevered and was able to continue as a civil servant, albeit in a different position, until her retirement at age 55 in 1988.

 In retirement Margaret and Ralph travelled around the “lower 48” in their RV, visiting with friends and family along the way.  It was also during this time that Margaret concentrated her efforts on genealogy.  As a result of doing the tough work of tracing our family tree, she was able to become a member of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, Daughters of the American Revolution and the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic.  Margaret was also a member of NARFE, DAV & VFW Auxiliaries, and Klamath Falls First United Methodist Church.  Margaret volunteered in the SMART Reading Program at Peterson Elementary School and at the Bookie Joint of the Klamath County Main Library. Margaret used to be a voracious reader until the Alzheimer’s disease took hold.

In her work, church, societies, memberships and other associations she took great joy.  Anyone who knew Margaret, or Marge, as they knew her, was quick with a smile, intellect, and had a special wit about her.  Margaret is preceded in death, and now reconciled through Christ, with her Mother, Father, love of her life Husband, Half Brother James Skillings, Brother John Skillings, Sister-in-Law Beverly Skillings, all her Brother and Sister-in Laws from the Meservey side of the family and Nephew Paul Skillings. She is survived by her Brother George Skillings of Harrisonburg, Virginia; Son Michael of Klamath Falls; Son Robert and his Wife Denise of Friendswood, Texas; Granddaughter Megan Meservey of Holland, NY; Grandchildren Tim Meservey, Kathy Langdon, her Husband Derrick, Steven Meservey;  Great Grandchildren Joshua Ulrich, Madison & Morgan Langdon; as well as numerous Nieces and Nephews throughout the United States.

Margaret, Marge, Mom, Grammie, Grandma, Great Grandma, will be greatly missed.  Her love, care, compassion, smiles, laughs and hugs will be missed the most.

In lieu of flowers, please just keep Margaret in your hearts with memories of how you knew her.

Any donations you wish to make, please do so to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation.  https://www.alzinfo.org/donate/donation_form/