Margaret married Allen Maddox on December 22, 1938 in her parents home: 2313 West 11th Street, Duluth, MN  Photo from Dorothy & Jerry Hallsten
Bestman: Harold Maddox, Maid of Honor: Dorothy Hallsten

Dave, Susan and Karen
Photo from Dorothy & Jerry Hallsten

Remembering Margaret Maddox

My wife Mary Nell and I first met Allen & Margaret Maddox after we moved to Delavan in 1983 and joined the United Church of Christ.  It was at one of the social gatherings with coffee after the Sunday service which is a springboard for meeting new friends.
 
Conversation with Allen and Margaret revealed that they owned a travel trailer, and, they traveled to Arizona to escape the Wisconsin winters.  Mary Nell and I likewise had a recreational vehicle in which we traveled south for the winter.  We had lots of fun with Allen and Margaret comparing travel stories and "Snow Bird" experiences..  They were very friendly and outgoing.
 
We were saddened when Allen took sick and died.  We lost our new friend.   However, Margaret moved into Fairhaven at Whitewater, WI which is retirement housing affiliated with UCC, and, she joined several church friends already living there.  She could always get a ride back to Delavan for church services and other functions.
 
At one of the church potluck dinners Margaret brought the most beautiful lemon meringue pie I had ever seen.  I made sure that there was a piece for me, and, it was as delicious as it looked.  Margaret explained that they would bring back huge lemons from Arizona and Allen loved her lemon pies.  I was immediately her closest lemon meringue pie fan.
 
During one of the following winters when Mary Nell and I were wintering in southern Texas, I saw some large locally grown lemons.  I naturally thought about Margaret.  I bought a few and sent them to Margaret at Fairhaven with a note that I didn't want her to NOT have lemons.
 
In the spring when we returned home, Margaret found me at church and said, "I got the lemons, and, I squeezed the juice and made ice cubes.  They're in my freezer and I'm going to make you a pie."  That became a topic of conversation for Margaret and me.  It wasn't too long after that when her health declined.  Her activities and travel were somewhat curtailed.  She wasn't able to make "that" pie.   She never forgot it though.  Maybe the lemon ice cubes were still in her freezer when she died.
 
We miss Margaret, and, not only for her lemon meringue pie.
 
Dean Anderson

Margaret, Allen and Susan
Photo from Dorothy & Jerry Hallsten

Dear Carol,

I am trying to find more pictures of Margaret - as I have many.

She was always first one at our B lounge for Thursday coffee always with "goodies".

We had many wonderful times together  - But she did to much for others.

Fondly, Marjorie Welty

When Mr. and Mrs. Maddox moved to Fairhaven they invited us to their
apartment for fresh lemon pie. The lemons had been delivered to them by
a relative, I believe, and the lemons were fresh. We have never has
anything better.
They had been at our home, too, to watch birds. Mr. Maddox wanted to
see goldfinch eat off a sunflower plant. It was August and it was hot.
Margaret wasn't a bit worried about him and visited until he saw the
bird land on the plant and eat. It was so precious we were able to
provide that experience for him.
Mrs. Maddox would always show us pictures of the bridal gowns.
Beautiful and intricate. What a talented couple.
She liked nothing better than the parties her family had and just like
our minister, we envied them a little.

Ella Woodbury

Dave, Karen and Susan -
Photo from Dorothy & Jerry Hallsten

Dear Carol,

We have been having some occasional difficulties with our computer and
it's function and your web site has apparently joined that group, so I
write our "Margaret notes" in a letter.
We were immediately charmed by Allen and Margaret when they moved to
Delavan, and chose to come to our UCC church. They became the ultimate
popular, participating, interested, caring, interesting pair.
Margaret was a practicing expert in so many areas: an excellent cook,
skilled baker, seamstress, knitter, gardener, and she shared her
knowledge, experience, advice and kitchen products generously.

When they later moved to Fairhaven, 15 miles away, they continued to
attend church services and events here when they weren't in Arizona or
traveling. Margaret continued her baking routines, but shared lots with
their neighbors and staff; this continued long after she was alone. To
acknowledge this gift and respond to her generosity, the Fairhaven
staff - office, building, grounds people - would occasionally gather up
a big supply of baking items: flours, oils, flavorings, sugars, etc and
come as a group to present them to her. She was famous for her
doughnuts; everybody loved them!

Margaret always downplayed her aches and discomforts so few knew she
really had painful back or an uncooperative hip. She would chuckle if
she had a cut requiring a band aid; she said it was smart to put a
sizable one there to draw attention to it; she liked the attention! It
pays to advertise! She would recommend that people use them liberally,
to become the center of attention - to glean all the focus they could!
Silly, happy humor!

Her loving happy spirit will not be forgotten. She is our ongoing model
and example of cheery, wonderful personality, and incomparable friend.
We are blessed to have known her, and thankful she lived a long busy
life among us.

Ella Woodbury also had problems with her message, so I enclose it to
add to your collection. We wish you well on your project and trust our
story supply will be abundant and fun!

Sincerely,
Mr. & Mrs. John McClean

Margaret's 90th Birthday Party!
Photo from Carol Lilyquist-Snoeyenbos