Margaret was born in Stigler, OK on November 2, 1924, the first daughter of Harvey and Sylvia Agee Mullen. Her parents and two brothers treated her like a princess; this concept of herself remained with Margaret throughout her life. Inside she knew she was somebody special. Having been forged on the events of The Great Depression and World War II Margaret developed strong qualities: working, setting goals and achieving them and waiting with patience for a brighter tomorrow – these served her well as she reached adulthood. Two mind sets from her parents gave her strength and encouragement through life: “a degree of excellence without fanaticism: was her approach to serious efforts. A credo brought to every endeavor was that nothing could separate her from the love of God that was in Christ Jesus; a positive outlook and confidence gave balance to Margaret’s life.
Words put together well were her delight; reading and books became a passion. In her South Park High School English class Mr. Morris Cloniger brought to life the characters created by Shakespeare, Dickens and Emily Dickinson. Music became important as Margaret sang in choral groups headed by two educators of distinction. O.G. Parks at South Park and Harry Kanady at Lamar Jr. College introduced students to music composed and performed by the greats. They saw to it that their classes attended concerts in The City Auditorium (now Julie Rogers Theater). As the luminaries graveled the country on trains for one-night appearances Margaret heard such unforgettables as Jascha Heifetz and Frits Kreisler. Hearing Sergei Rachmaninoff in concert at Texas State College for Women in Denton, TX followed and in 1944 Margaret earned a B.A. degree at SCSW.
World War II brought romance, fears and uncertainties as Margaret became the bride of Lt. Dan Dennis, U. S. Army Air corps. She married on June 14, 1944, returning alone after a week long honeymoon. It would be a long, rainy winter as young women waited for letters from husbands, brothers and sweethearts. 1945 was the joyful beginning of a family for Margaret and Dan. Margaret’s consuming love was her family: Front-row seats for any activity involving Danny and Rick were a priority, whether Little League baseball games, Boy Scout events, Swing Band concerts of Senior Plays. Combining a full time work schedule with night classes at Lamar, Dan set out to finish his education. This became a family project with a move to Houston.
Church-related ministries at two congregations – Procter Street Church of Christ (Port Arthur) and Southwest church of Christ (Houston) included teaching in Early Childhood Bible and Day Schools. “The smile of a child will make a sacred day more holy still.” A second ministry dear to Margaret was the library at Westgate Church of Christ, Beaumont. “One sure window into a a person’s soul is his reading list.” Reflecting her love of reading Margaret became involved with the private school directed by Miss Angie Nall, The Beaumont Remedial Center, later founding the Midcounty Center for Reading Therapy in Port Neches. Her work on the staff of the Mary and John Gray Library at Lamar University would bring her to retirement after ten years there. Excellence among women educators was important, and Margaret’s membership in the Delta Kappa Gamma Society gave expression to this interest; her local chapter was Eta Lambda. Margaret was a lifelong learner, a lover of poetry and the “Quote Queen” in her circle of family and friends. Her notes are the reason for the clutter in their files – sorry about that!
Traveling to England made Anglophiles of Margaret and Dan. Sitting in the loft corner of the old Rules Pub where Dickens is said to have written David Copperfield was a walk back in time. Visits to WWII Museums and Air Bases were additional focal points on these trips.
Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, parents, two brothers – Harvey and Billy and a son, Cpl.. Dan Michael Dennis USMC.
Surviving her are her son, Rick (Regina), Grandchildren, Matthew Stephen and Laura Elizabeth Dennis, Crosby, TX; sisters, Pat Davidson, Houston and assorted nieces, nephews and cousins who remember fondly the Gingerbread Party at Christmastime with Aunt Margaret.
A gathering of family and friends is to be held Friday, November 22, 2013 from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m. with a celebration of Margaret’s life to follow at 2:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.