Obituary for Margaret Florea Margaret D. Florea 1916-2018 Margaret Dell (King) Florea, 101, passed away Monday, March 12, 2018 at Parkdale Manor Care Center, Maryville, Missouri. She was born November 17, 1916 at the farm home of her parents Lois B. (Remington) and Ray L. King, three miles east of Hopkins. Margaret attended school in Hopkins her first two grades and stayed with her Grandparents, Samuel L. and Nancy Jane (Jennie) King during the school year.
When her parents moved to Bedford, she split her third and fourth grades there, returning with her parents to the farm where she completed the remainder of fourth through eight grades at the Unity country school. Margaret attended Hopkins High School while alternatively staying with her grandparents and riding a horse back and forth from the farm, graduating in 1934. On October 5, 1935, she married Orlin Elbert Florea and they came to live on the King family farm in 1939 when Margaret’s parents moved away.
This was to remain her home until a storm damaged the house in 2002, necessitating a move into Hopkins. Five children were born to this union. In Margaret’s own words, “In January 1940, Wayne Elbert came to bless the home but he was not destined to stay long, leaving us in February.
Larry Edwin was born in 1941, then followed Lois Janelle, August 1945. This little angel stayed with us until September. August 1946, Roger Lee and Paula Jean in November 1948 followed.
Orlin and I have been blest by a fine family, five grandchildren, Brian, Denise, Keith, Erica and Stacy, who have been a great joy to their grandparents. We are proud to include daughters-in-law, Susan and Vera and son-in-law, Mehmet”. As a housewife, Margaret helped her husband on the farm.
When all her children reached school-age, Margaret along with Orlin owned and operated the Hop-In Restaurant in Hopkins in the 1950’s. Margaret later worked at Barnett Grocery in Hopkins as well as the Safeway Grocery and JC Penney’s in Maryville plus time at the sewing factory in Bedford, Iowa. In addition to her infant children, Margaret was preceded in death by her husband just 4 days prior to their 57th wedding anniversary in October 1992, her son, Larry in May 2012, and her brother Edwin King in August 2013.
Surviving Margaret are her children, Roger (Sue) Florea of Hopkins, MO, Paula (Mehmet) Unsal of Teaneck, NJ and daughter-in-law Vera Florea of Bolivar, MO; her grandchildren Brian (Tricia) Florea, Topeks, KS; Denise (Clint) Rowen, Sheridan, MO; Keith (Amanda) Florea, Kansas City, MO; Erica (Grant) Cox, Halfway, MO; Stacey (Andy) Grinsfelder, Buffalo, NY; her great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and her first cousin Don King. Margaret’s path through life brought her great joy. Her hobbies included genealogy, art, playing the organ, quilts, crocheting and getting to know people with whom she came into contact in her life pursuits.
Among her many community activities, she delivered Meals on Wheels, played piano for the high school chorus, co-founded the Sixty Plus Social Center, wrote for the Hopkins Journal and Bedford Times-Press, and participated in many aspects of the Hopkins Picnic. In addition she served on boards for OATS, Long Branch Cemetery, and the Hopkins Historical Museum. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the Music Club, Merry Ridge Club, Merrie Mixers, TRY Extension Club, and the Wray Memorial Methodist Church, where she was listed on the Cradle Roll as an infant, baptized at 15, held many positions and was pianist and organist for nearly forty years.
Margaret continued her community service crocheting prayer shawls and making hats for Ben’s Stockings after moving to Parkdale Manor. She made new friends there, maintained a positive outlook and always tried to help others. There will be no visitation Farewell services: 10:30 AM Friday, March 16, 2018, Wray Memorial Methodist Church, Hopkins.
Interment: Hopkins Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Wray Memorial Methodist Church. www.
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