MARGARET KNIGHT BLANK DAVID, 92, died on September 11, 2014, in Houston, Texas. Margaret was born on November 7, 1921, in Plano, Texas, to Margaret Lois Knight and Paul Henri Blank. She was preceded in death by her husband Samuel Conway David her parents her brothers, Paul Henri and James Ray her sister, Gene Morehead and her two sons, Michael Henri Foster and Stephen Craig Foster.
Margaret spent most of her early years in Plano, Texas. Her mother was a homemaker, and her father was a rural letter carrier. When she was just five years old in 1927, both of her older brothers, ages seven and nine years, died within three months of each other. Then, in 1929, the Great Depression hit. When she was fifteen years old, she was bitten by the familys pet collie, which was discovered to have rabies. Margaret had to undergo the Pasteur treatment, requiring upwards of 20 injections in the abdomen. Despite numerous sorrows and adversities growing up, she graduated from Plano High School with a perfect attendance record, having been neither absent or tardy during her entire school history.
Following a short romance, Margaret married J. T. Moseley. Their marriage ended in divorce before it really began after he went off to fight in the war overseas. Margaret went to work for North American Aviation, where she assembled AT6s, P51 Mustangs, and B25 Mitchell bombers during WWII. It was during that time at North American Aviation that she met and married Alfred Lee Foster, Sr., who was the father of her only children. Their first son died at just six months of age in 1945 from hydrocephalus, which was thought to be caused by a birth injury. They had another son the following year and a daughter a few years later.
Margaret was smart, creative, funloving, energetic, and strongwilled. She worked outside the home as a legal secretary while raising her children in Houston. She and Alfred Lee would divorce and marry twice...almost marrying for a third time. Alfred Lee died in 1970, and it was about that time that Margaret bought a little cabin in the woods on the outskirts of Livingston, Texas, which was her weekend getaway for years. Margaret was active in Delta Rho Delta Sorority, a national service organization for business and professional women. For many years, her finished garage was the staging place for assembling duck Easter baskets to benefit cancer patients at M. D. Anderson. During the mid70s, she met and married Arthur Art Lloyd Seljos and, some years later, they both moved to the cabin in Indian Springs.
Margaret soon became involved in many local projects. She supported the Pine Cone Festival and, as a member of the hospital auxiliary, she helped raise funds for scholarships to graduating students entering a field in health care. She became a member of St. Lukes Episcopal Church and served on the altar guild. Margaret also supervised the landscaping for their sanctuary, parish hall, parsonage, and bell tower. After her husband Art died, she moved out of the country and into town where she found many more opportunities to become involved and volunteer. She served on the Board of Directors of the Polk County Heritage Society and chaired the Tour of Homes in 2002. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Polk County Emergency Health Board. As president, she initiated the Fiesta De Amigos fund raiser, raising thousands of dollars for local lowincome and underserved families.
In 1992, Margaret married Samuel Conway Dave David, a WWII veteran and local resident. They enjoyed taking trips together and playing bridge and dominos regularly with friends. The other thing they equally shared was their love of Toby, the little black poodle they welcomed into their home. Margaret and Dave were married until Daves death in 2008.
Margaret was very active in Polk County Garden Club, holding offices in local, state, and district levels. She was instrumental in landscaping the grounds of St. Lukes Episcopal Church, the Boys and Girls Club, and the old hospital before the new one was built. She was chair of the new hospitals Healing Gardennamed in her honora place of therapeutic refuge for patients, families, and staff. More recently, she was chair of the Courthouse Beautification Committee, and she spearheaded the plantings for the gazebo on the courthouse grounds. Margarets vision and dedication is manifest around town, and the City of Livingston is a more beautiful place because of her efforts.
Margaret was probably best known around town as the butterfly lady. She had tshirts and sweatshirts, pant suits and dresses, scarves and sweaters adorned with butterflies. She wore butterfly jewelry and, if there was a knickknack with butterflies, she likely owned it. She had a butterfly garden in her backyard and, for years each spring, would capture the caterpillars to watch their ever amazing metamorphosis to Monarch butterflies. As an environmental consultant in the garden club, she took her caterpillars on the road to nearby garden clubs to share that wonderment with any and all who were interested. On one trip before perfecting her butterfly enclosure, Margarets captives emerged from their chrysalis phase and escaped, flying around inside the car en route to her presentation.
Margaret was honored to be named Polk Countian of the Year by the Polk County Chamber of Commerce in 2002 and Woman of the Year by the American Association of University Women in 2003. She worked for the betterment of her community until she was no longer able to do so. When she was unable to live independently, she moved to Houston in 2011 to be nearer to her family.
Margaret is survived by her daughter Donna Foster Boyd and husband Carter granddaughter Heather Boyd Martin and husband Scott, great granddaughters Abigail and Katherine granddaughter Brooke Boyd Priest and husband Ryan, great grandchildren Jackson, Mason, and Allison grandson Joseph Craig Foster granddaughter Kristin Wheeler and husband Rob, great grandsons Caden and Bodi and sister Jon Paula Ackley. Margaret was affectionately known to her family as Honey, and she will be greatly missed.
LeeAnn Taylor writesand I think Margaret would agreeWe are all butterflies. Earth is our chrysalis. So, as Margaret sheds her earthly body like a caterpillar sheds its cocoon, may she burst forth with wings like angels and fly away home
Visitation will be held Tuesday evening, September 16, 2014, from 68 at Pace Funeral Home 200 FM 350 North Livingston, Texas. A Celebration of Margarets life will be on Wednesday, September 17, 2014, at 10:30 A.M. at First United Methodist Church off 190 West in Livingston, Texas. To sign the online guestbook, please go to www.pacefuneral.com.
|
