Margot Anneliese Nebel Kooy, 92, of Winston-Salem, passed away March 27, 2019 surrounded by family, at the Trellis Supportive Care’s Kate B Reynolds Hospice Home. Margot was born on August 3, 1926 in Chemnitz, Germany to Elsa Sonntag and Max Nebel. Both of Margot’s parents passed away when she was very young.
Her mother, a ballerina, died during Margot’s birth; her father, an engineer, died in Brazil, where he had moved to look for work in hopes of relocating the family. She was raised by her great aunt, Valeska Flora Neubauer Zuchner. Due to the economic and political state of Germany at the time, Valeska moved the family to Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Eventually, the family immigrated to New York City, where they lived in the tenements. Later, the family moved to the farmland of New Jersey, where she spent the remainder of her childhood living and working on farms raising dairy cattle and chickens. She helped milk 80 cows twice daily by hand and developed the large hands of a farm girl.
She was a German citizen living in the USA during World War II and was checked on monthly to verify that she was law abiding. In 1945, she graduated from Flemington High School where she was involved in music, drama, art, and sports. After graduation, she planned to study opera in New York City.
Her fate changed however, when she fell in love with a widowed pastor, Vernon H Kooy. Vernon was the pastor of Clover Hill Reformed Church, the property of which bordered her farm. They married on December 22, 1945.
Like many women of her generation, she sacrificed her dreams for those of her husband, and she became a minister’s wife and mother to his toddler son. Her life followed that of her husband’s, and she later become a professor’s wife at New Brunswick Theological Seminary, where she was active in the Women’s Auxiliary. Due to her interest in history, she started the seminary’s museum and categorized ancient antiquities.
Always a singer at heart, she sang in church choirs and performed numerous solos over the years. She raised 5 children and instilled in them a love of Christ, the arts, and history. She was a renaissance type with talents in music, art, gardening, sewing, knitting, crocheting, baking, and enjoyed learning about history, especially Biblical history.
Her love of history included an appreciation for antiques, which furnished every room of her home. In 1993, Margot and Vernon moved to Winston-Salem to be close to her daughter and grandchildren. She became a part time chauffeur to her grandchildren, picking them up from school and transporting them to their various activities.
She joined the Clemmons Moravian Church where she was an active member. Throughout her years, her social life was centered around church. She was a member of the choir into her 80’s and a Sunday school teacher until the last year of her life, when health issues prevented her.
She had a strong Germanic spirit; she was hardworking, disciplined, and tough, with a belief that one handles what life throws at one without self-pity or indulgence. She displayed that toughness in her later years, undergoing breast cancer treatment at 81 and pleural cancer in her 90’s. Margot was predeceased by her husband of 56 years, Vernon Howard, and her son, Daryl Glenn.
She leaves behind children Vernon Eugene and wife Betty of Hastings, NE, Craig Arthur of Winston-Salem, Gwyn Ellen of Clemmons, NC, and Brian Keith and wife Kyoko of Roswell, GA. She also leaves behind nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren: Heidi Marie Kooy and daughter Ute Mariposa of San Francisco, CA, Elizabeth Anne Kooy and husband, Adrian Martin Codel , and children Zane Martin, Cael Alexander, and Soeren Aberdeen of Mount View, CA, Jan Frederick Kooy and wife Nefertiti Yusah and daughter, Athena Bronwen of San Francisco , CA, Whitney Anneliese Smith and husband Nicholas Durrel Hunter and daughters, Avyn Katharina, Johanna Temperance, and Amelie Helen of Cypress, TX, Pieter Coventry Smith of Sherman Oaks, CA, Camden Jakob Smith and wife Alexandra Nichole Erbesti of Jacksonville, FL, Viktoriya Anne Smith of Libby, MT, and Micah Christian Smith of Bridgeport, CT. Margot had a compassionate and generous spirit and a passionate zest for life.
She cared deeply for her children, enthusiastically celebrating their accomplishments and providing comfort during times of uncertainty. She was a natural caregiver, taking care of family and friends during times of sickness and declining health. She taught her children what is really important in life – to love, to care for others, and to support family and friends.
She will be dearly missed. The family wishes to thank Heidi Klepin, MD, of Wake Forest Baptist Health. Margot spoke fondly of Dr Klepin and the excellent care she provided.
We also wish to thank the staff of Trellis Supportive Care who cared for and comforted her during her final week. A funeral service will be held at Clemmons Moravian Church on April13 at 3:00 with interment to follow in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Trellis Supportive Care, Winston-Salem, or Clemmons Moravian Church, Clemmons, NC.
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