Mary Margaret Flake, 78, was born on a farm near Schell City, on Aug. 23, 1924, to Eugene Oliver Losey and Mary Louise Losey. She passed away on April 28, 2003, at Willis Knighton Medical Center, Shreveport, LA. She was preceded in death by her father and mother; her husband, John Thomas Flake; her sister, Helen Louise Ruby; and her brothers, John Stephen Losey and James Elbert Losey.
She is survived by two sisters-in-law, Eileen Losey and Lottie Bennefield; seven nieces - Mary Kane, June Perkins, Anne Blackett, Linda Baird, Kaye Carney, Cathy Gripka and Joyce Watson; three nephews - William Losey, Jerry Losey and Thomas Bennefield; and a number of great-nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind many friends in Shreveport, LA; Dennison, TX; Parsons, KS; and in the Schell City-Nevada area.
Mary Flake will always be remembered with a smile. She found humor in almost everything and was happiest when making sure those around her saw it too. Her friends and family called her Marg or Margie, reflecting the warmth and affection she showed to them. No one escaped her quick wit and practical jokes and no one failed to love her for them.
She was an accomplished seamstress and provided her nieces and nephews with teddy bears dressed to the nines and muslin rabbits in gingham dresses. She pieced beautiful quilts and tailored many garments.
Marg and J.T. moved often while he worked for the K.A.T.Y. and Kansas City Southern Railroads. Marg made many lasting friends in each place. Her nieces and nephews couldn't wait for summer trips to Marg's, often staying for two or three weeks, being spoiled by their favorite aunt. Shelling peas and snapping green beans for canning became contests and muddy ponds and strip pits became swimming holes. Fun followed Marg from house to house and city to city.
Marg held many jobs including a telephone operator in Schell City; a school bus driver in Harwood; a power line worker at Hercules Armament Factory in Sunflower, KS; a seamstress in a garment factory; and a dry goods clerk at J.C. Penny in Parsons, KS, and Dennison, TX.
She was as generous to her community as she was to her family. Shortly after moving to Shreveport, Marg noticed an elderly woman walking home from the grocery store carrying heavy bags in the rain. Marg stopped to offer her a ride and at first the woman was fearful and refused. Marg talked to her to reassure her that she would be safe, beginning a friendship that would last for years.
Marg made regular trips to the store for the woman and her elderly husband, sometimes providing a ride and often buying the groceries and delivering them. The couple lived in an older house with only a wood stove for heat. Marg provided firewood and checked to be sure they had food and medicine. After the man died, Marg continued to visit. When she found the house empty one day, she contacted the neighbors until she found her living in a nurs¬ing home. Marg visited her regularly, bringing the one thing the woman requested, chewing tobacco. They remained friends until the woman's death.
Mary Margaret Flake was a strong woman with a generous heart and a view of life that caused everyone to smile. The "Marge stories" her family and friends could tell would fill a large volume and will remain in their hearts long after she is gone. Their world is sadder without her.
Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, May 2, in the Schell City Christian Church. Visitation will be from 10 - 11 a.m. prior to the service at the church. Pallbearers will be Eugene Crawford, William Perkins, Jerry Losey, William Losey, Matthew Gripka and Jon Gripka. Interment will be in the Green Mound Cemetery, Harwood, under the direction of the Lewis-Hoagland Funeral Home, Schell City. Memorials are suggested to the Schell City Christian Church.
