Margaret Rowena "Margie" McCroskey

1936 - 2022

Margaret "Margie" Rowena McCroskey

December 5, 1936 - September 4, 2022

Our beloved wife and mother, Margaret "Margie" Rowena McCroskey, died peacefully in her sleep at home in Bristol, Virginia, on Sunday, September 4, 2022, at the age of 85. She was born in Pantego, North Carolina, on December 5, 1936, to the late William Roswell Baynor and Dora Lee Baynor. Margie was a woman of gentle spirit, kind to a fault, who will be deeply missed.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 55 years, Bobby Ray McCroskey; two children, Kevin McCroskey and his wife, Susannah, of Bristol and Heather Hayes and her husband, Aaron, of Greenville, N.C.; grandchildren, Emily, Glenn, Ian, Mary, Connor, Kyle and Pierce McCroskey and Ashley Hayes; sisters, Jean Basnight and Judy Cooper; along with many adored nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by sisters Marie Stallings and Maxine Riddick.

As a youth, Margie was a dependable A student and basketball player in Swan Quarter, N.C. In her more active adult years, she was an avid golfer and tennis player. Margie lived in numerous places, including Pantego, Scranton and other towns in eastern N.C., and as a young adult in Norfolk, Virginia, where she worked as secretary for an architecture firm for several years. As a United States Navy wife, she then lived in San Diego, California; Norfolk, Virginia, Brunswick, Maine; Rota, Spain; Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico; and Hampton, Virginia; before finally settling in Bristol, Tennessee. While in Bristol, she served as secretary at First Christian Church during the tenures of the Rev. John Thrasher and the Rev. Herb Peak.

As a parent, Margie was always deeply involved in the life of her family, serving as P.T.A. president and reliably one of every band director and coach's favorite and most dependable boosters and parent-chaperones, faithfully attending every game, concert and road trip.

A memorial service in celebration of her life will be held at First Christian Church, Bristol, Virginia, on Saturday, October 8, 2022, at 11 a.m., followed immediately by a time of visitation. Honorary pallbearers are the Rev. John Thrasher, the Rev. Herb Peak, Richard Allison, Richard Chambers and Bob Hand.

Gifts may be made in Margie's memory to the Deacon's Benevolence Fund of Saint Peter Presbyterian Church (saintpeterpresbyterian.org) or Samaritan's Purse (samaritanspurse.org). Condolences may be sent to the family at Oakley-Cook Funeral Home (oakley-cook.com).