Margaret Morris Dean

News Death Notice

DEAN, Margaret Morris passed peacefully from this earthly life to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the late afternoon hours of May 2, 2009. Surrounded by her husband, her children, and her grandchildren, Margaret was serenaded home "In the Garden" that is "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." The daughter of Floyd B. and Myra Morris, Margaret was born July 16, 1923 in Fairmont, West Virginia. A graduate of the Ohio State University, Margaret met her future husband, Daniel Dean of Xenia, Ohio, on December 19, 1944 as she sat bare-footed wrapping Christmas presents in the parlor of the Delta Zeta Sorority House on the OSU Campus. After graduation from Ohio State in 1945 Daniel went to the U.S. Navy while Margaret was employed by Travelers' Aid in Columbus, Ohio as a social worker. Margaret and Daniel were married April 26, 1947. They moved onto a farm in southeastern Clark County where they resided for the next 60 years. Margaret and Dan raised three children on the farm: Danny, Myra and Jim. Danny and Mary Mueller and Jim and Betsy Dean continue the family farm tradition in Clark and Greene Counties. Myra and DJ Banion board horses in Greene County. A city girl, Margaret adapted quickly to farm life. In addition to raising her children and homemaking, Margaret operated a wholesale- retail egg business from the basement of her home with the family station wagon as her delivery truck. She was also very active in the Presbyterian Church of South Charleston, the Clark County Farm Bureau, the Child Conservation League and the Monday Night Club. She assisted her husband DDan, during his many years as a 4-H Club advisor. In the mid-1960s Margaret combined her love of children and her delight in literature when she accepted a position with the Warder Public Library as a librarian in the Springfield City Schools. She served several elementary schools in the ensuing years, starting at Jefferson and McKinley and ending her career at Kenwood and Horace Mann, encouraging many young people to share her passion for the well-written word. Above and beyond all her endeavors as a wife, mother, business-woman, and librarian, Margaret Dean was a devout Christian who lived her faith. Her love for GOD and all GOD's children was most clearly demonstrated in her work with The Good Samaritan Out Reach Center, a ministry of The First Christian Church, which she and David Garrett were instrumental in starting and maintaining. Many people in Springfield, Ohio have been blessed by the ministry of "Mr. Dan" and "Miss Margaret" at the GSOC. In addition to her husband and children, Margaret is survived by Helen Clark, her sister, of Centerville, Ohio; Dan and Mileah Dean, grandson and Allison, Alex and Daniel the IV, great-grandchildren of South Charleston; Bryn Dean, granddaughter and Kevin Steiner of South Charleston; Debbie Dean, dear friend and daughter-in-law of South Vienna; Deidra Banion, step- granddaughter and Xan Pennington of Springfield; Layla and Dan Johnson, step- granddaughter and Patrick and Evan Johnson, great grandsons of South Charleston. Margaret's family is very grateful for the long-time assistance of Sandy Wolfe and for the care provided recently by other friends: Jill Conkel, Lori Brown, and Sandy Simkins. A special thank-you is extended to the staff of The Grand Court who worked so hard to ensure that Margaret and Daniel were able to stay together as their health declined. Many thanks to the staff and volunteers of Community Mercy Hospice for their compassionate care of Margaret and her family. Visitation will be Monday, May 4 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Richards Raff and Dunbar Memorial Home. Funeral services will be officiated by Pastor Marvin Phillips and the Rev. John Wilson on Tuesday, May 5 at 10:00 a.m. at the Memorial Home. Grandson Dan Dean will deliver the eulogy. Interment will be at noon in the Dean Family Cemetery in Greene County with the Rev. Myra Dean Banion conducting the graveside service. In lieu of flowers, Margaret's family requests memorial contributions to The Good Samaritan Out Reach Center c/o The First Christian Church 3638 Middle Urbana Road, Springfield, Ohio, 45502, telephone 937-399- 1000.