Margaret Grant

Margaret Agnes Grant, 79, of Cape Girardeau left from this earth to her heavenly home Tuesday, March 1, 2016.

She was born Oct. 3, 1936, in Amityville, Long Island, New York, to Arthur John and Margaret May Nagengast Roberts.

She grew up in Clyde, New York, before marrying J.C. Grant in Holly Springs, Mississippi. They made their way to the Southern Illinois/Cape Girardeau area and made it their home, along with their three children.

Margaret was active in Parent-Teacher Association, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Red Star Baptist Church and SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence in later years. She was instrumental in starting one of the first integrated Girl Scout troops in Southeast Missouri. She would make outfits for girls in need of one for choir or school, so anyone could participate and have the proper clothing for the activity.

She was an excellent seamstress and loved to cook and sew. She worked endlessly in the community to see that needs were met for those with disabilities, mainstreaming her son, David, after brain surgery even when it was not standard practice within the school system.

She worked at Southeast Missouri State University in the kitchens for many years, retiring as the manager of Greek Housing Cafeteria. She worked with the foreign-exchange students and helped plan dinners and hosted many of them who stayed during the holidays in her home during the school breaks.

Even after leaving Southeast Missouri State University, she worked at Parkview State School cooking for the special-needs children. Her love for children and her family always was at the forefront of her life.

Margaret was preceded in death by her son, David Grant, and former husband J.C. Grant.

She has two remaining children, Nanci (Stanley) Burchell of Kansas City, Missouri, and Susan (James) Harrison-King of Gordonville. She has four grandchildren, Randy Burchell (Jessica McGriff) of Kansas City, Justin Kottabi (Tiffanie Atherton) of Whitewater, Joseph Harrison of Cape Girardeau and Jamie King of Gordonville; and five great-grandchildren, Thomas, Conner, Will, Evie and Ethan. She will be greatly missed by all.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Jim Matthews officiating.

Memorial contributions may be given to Community Counseling Center Foundation, 402 Silver Springs Road, Cape Girardeau, MO 63703 or SADI, 1913 Rusmar St., Cape Girardeau, MO 63703.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.