Margaret Bagby

CAIRO, Ill. -- Margaret Berbling Bagby, 75, of Cairo died Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2003, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

She was born April 28, 1928, in Cairo, the daughter of Carl Wolffe and Mary Magdeline Cordova Berbling. She married A. Dean Bagby on Dec. 27, 1950. He preceded her in death on May 5, 1997.

She danced as a Rockette at Radio City Music Hall. She was the owner of the Margaret Berbling Bagby School of Dance for 35 years and the owner of Berbling Tire Co. for 18 years until retiring in 1994. She was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Cairo, serving as regent of the Daughters of Isabella -- St. Theresa Circle 331. She was a former trustee of the Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 2649, a member of the Ladies Auxiliary Elks BPOE 651 and worked on Cairo's Magnolia Ball, later serving as chairwoman of the Riverboat Ball and Queen Coronation.

She is survived by a son, Wolffe Bagby of East Prairie, Mo.; a daughter, Deana Pecord of Cairo; and four grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Cairo. The rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday at the church with the Rev. Jerome Fortenberry officiating.

Burial will be at Greenlawn Memorial Garden Cemetery in Villa Ridge, Ill.

McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston, Mo., is in charge of arrangements.