Margaret Tolbert

Margaret Tolbert, 97, of Miami, passed away March 24, 2017 in Lubbock. Services will be 10:00 AM Wednesday, March 29, 2017, at First Christian Church of Miami, with Rev. Tom Stribling, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Happy, and Rev. Richard Royal, pastor of First Christian Church of Miami, officiating. Burial will follow in Miami Cemetery under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Canadian. Mrs. Tolbert was born October 8, 1919 in Lancaster to Hughie O. and Stella Durrett. She graduated from Lancaster High School in 1936 and attended Texas Women’s University in Denton. She worked for the Army Engineers during World War II in Dallas, San Antonio, Edmonton, Alberta, and Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada. In Canada, she was the secretary for the Adjunct General of the Northwest Service Command of U.S. Army of Engineers. She also worked for Hunter Fan Company for many years. Margaret married Bill Tolbert in 1947 in Amarillo. They lived in College Station until Bill graduated, and then moved to Miami in 1949. He preceded her in death on June 26, 2009. She moved to Mesa View in Canadian in 2012. Margaret was a member of First Christian Church of Miami. She was a member of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association and the Red Hatters Club. She loved to travel and loved playing bingo. During her career, she was ahead of her time, working in fields that were typically male oriented. She was very goal oriented and very health conscious. Margaret was also preceded in death by a daughter, Betty Lou Tolbert in 1971; a daughter, Pat Peirce in January of 2010; and a sister, Mary Lou Watson in 2012.   Survivors include three granddaughters, Kimbra Lafleur and husband Ron of Elgin, Kara McClendon of Canadian, and Kate Miller and husband Jeff of Lubbock; six great grandchildren, Kyler McClendon and Konnar McClendon, both of Canadian, and Meredith Miller, Cannon Miller, Brenna Miller and Jack Miller, all of Lubbock; numerous nieces and nephews; and Joe Peirce of Miami. Memorials may be made to First Christian Church, PO Box 216, Miami, Texas 79059; or The Opportunity Plan, PO Box 1035, Canyon, Texas 79015. Margaret will lie in state at Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Canadian and the family will receive friends from 5:30-7:30 PM Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at the funeral home.