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Margaret E. Greer, 82, a resident of Albuquerque for the last six years, passed away peacefully at home Saturday evening, June 23, 2007. She is survived by her two children, Rick Greer of Morristown, NJ, and Kathe Rensner and husband Gary of Sandia Park, NM; niece, Marilyn Goeller and husband, Ted of Walnut Creek, CA; nephew, Bob Holgerson of Wichita, KS; nephew, Mike Mostrom and wife, Sherry of Cedar Crest, NM; nine grandnieces and grandnephews; five great-grandnieces and -nephews; and, many loving friends. Margaret was preceded in death by her beloved husband, John L. Greer Jr., in 1975; her brother, Francis DeMand, a highly decorated WWII pilot killed in action in 1944, and her sister, Evelyn DeMand Holgerson, in 1980. Margaret was born in Kansas farm country in the small town of Haven, KS, to Dr. Milton H. and Martha DeMand on August 16, 1924. Margaret's father, a highly respected "horse and buggy" doctor, would take little Margaret with him while making his rounds in rural Kansas. After her father's death in 1926, Margaret helped with cooking and baking in her mother's boarding house that catered to the town's schoolteachers during the school year and itinerant oil wildcatters during the summer months. In her teen years, she and her mother moved to Wichita, KS where she graduated from East High School in 1942. Margaret attended Lindenwood College for a year and returned to Wichita to work the war effort at Aero Parts Manufacturing Company in Wichita. She met her future husband, John L. Greer, Jr, and they were married on Easter Sunday, 1945 in Reno, Nevada. The couple returned to Wichita and raised two children, Rick and Kathe. The family made several moves to the Phoenix area in 1961, the San Francisco area in 1964 and finally returning to Arizona in 1967. In Phoenix, Margaret was the Purchasing Agent for the Tonto National Forest. Margaret worked her career with the same vim and vigor with which she pursued most things in life receiving many commendations and employee awards. Margaret retired with honor from the Forest Service in 1986. After retirement, Margaret donated much of her time to Goodwill Industries, where she was usually first in line to support many of their fund-raising activities. She especially enjoyed working the annual Goodwill Antiques Show where she made many new friends. Margaret escaped the heat and smog of Phoenix, and moved to Albuquerque in 2001 to be nearer to her daughter. Margaret was a hopeless romantic who loved the change of the four seasons, our New Mexico fresh air, her beautiful garden, the love and company of her friends and family, and her church. Services will be held at Heights Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 8600 Academy Rd. NE, Friday, June 29, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. Margaret desired to be buried near her beloved husband and will be interred at Paradise Memorial Gardens in Scottsdale, AZ. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to Heights Cumberland Presbyterian Church Good Samaritan Fund, 8600 Academy Road NE, Albuquerque 87111; the Albuquerque Rescue Mission, P.O. Box 331, Albuquerque, NM 87103. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. French Mortuary, Inc. 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505)823-9400 www.frenchmortuary.com
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