Margaret Armina Morrow Hale was born June 20, 1907, in rural Decatur, the third child of Edmon and Margaret Armina (Saxton) Morrow. She passed away Sunday, December 23, 2007, at Logan Valley Manor in Lyons, at the age of 100 years, 6 months and 3 days.
Margaret attended Rural School District 6 in Burt County. She graduated from Riverside High School in 1925. Following graduation, she attended Wayne State Teachers College and obtained a teaching certificate. She taught school until her marriage to Floyd Hale on April 18, 1931 in a triple elopement with her two sisters, Iva and Florence. As teachers could not be married, she became a homemaker. They lived in the rural Decatur area where daughter, Phyllis, was born.
They farmed in the Craig and Herman areas where son, Raymond, joined the family. In March of 1944 they moved to the Alder Grove community, Craig Nebraska. They quit farming and moved to Lyons in December 1944.
Margaret did part time waitress work at the old Hiway Café in Lyons. In 1950, Margaret went back to school and teaching. In 1964 she received a Bachelor of Arts degree, with emphasis on teaching primary grades, from Dana College, Blair, Nebraska. Her teaching career included: the Divide Center School; Rosalie North Ward; Oakland Public and Tekamah Public Schools; and a rural Beemer school. After retiring from teaching, in 1977, she did in-home care for two elderly persons and enjoyed baby-sitting for her great-grandchildren. Floyd passed away in April 1999, one week after their 68th wedding anniversary. The next month she suffered a severe stroke. With rehabilitation and home care givers she was able to remain in her own home until January 2006, when she moved to the Logan Valley Manor. In June of 2007, her family and friends helped her to celebrate her 100th birthday.
Margaret was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. She loved babies and small children and always had a way to making them feel special and loved. She was an artist and always added special touches to what ever she did.
She was baptized at the Riverside Baptist Church, Decatur, Nebraska as a young girl. Other memberships included Memorial United Methodist Church of Lyons, Queen Esthers, Lyons Garden Club, Woman's Club, Retired Teachers, OES, and Past Matrons. She was a council member of Job's Daughters Bethel #35, Oakland, Nebraska.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, sisters: Iva Arnold. Florence Mack, Ella McCluskey and Mary Hieber; brothers: Arthur, Donald and Glen Morrow.
Survivors include: daughter, Phyllis Hensley, Lyons; son Raymond (Tina) Madison Alabama; five grandchildren: Beth Roetman, Scott (Laurie) Hensley, Barry Hale all of Omaha,
Tiffany DeBerry Blue Springs, Missouri and Aris Hale, Langely AFB, Virginia. Four great-grandchildren, Erin Sandoval, Kiley Lawson and Ryan Roetman and Kelli Hensley; four great-great-grandsons; sisters-in-law Hazel Christensen, Castle Rock, Colorado and Irene Morrow, Story City, Iowa; several nieces and nephews.