Margaret Lucille Appleton

Margaret Lucille Appleton, 80, passed away peacefully with her daughters by her side on Friday, February 12, 2016. Margaret was born to Lawrence Martin Young and Alta Marie Ethridge Young on July 15, 1935 in Cairo, Illinois. She grew up in Cairo; graduating from Cairo High School in 1953. She enjoyed hanging out with seven of her favorite girlfriends as they called themselves the Naughty Eight. Margaret and her girlfriends loved to listen to music and dance and would often go the "Club 18" in Cairo. They loved to see the service men come through town and that is where she met her future husband. She eloped and married Lloyd Ray Appleton, a paratrooper in the U.S. Army. She traveled with Lloyd Ray where he was to be stationed in Japan for a short period of time and when they came back to the States, he was stationed in Kentucky. Margaret and Lloyd separated and she moved to Texas to stay with her mom and sister. She left Texas to stay with her other sister in Louisiana for a short time and eventually made her way back to Texas in 1980. She made Abilene her home ever since working hard and raising her children. Margaret was a hard worker; she always had a job (sometimes two at the same time); but she knew that she had to take care of her children because they were always her first priority. Some of her jobs in Abilene included working for Gooch Packing Plant, Abilene Reporter News, Piggly Wiggly, Lawrence Brothers Grocery Stores and lastly before retirement, she worked at Save A Lot on Sayles where most will remember her as the "lady in the office". Margaret loved to read, play bingo, and crochet afghans for her children, grandchildren, and friends. For several years, Margaret would travel back to Illinois with one of her children to attend her High School Reunions. She was a strong, stubborn woman with a heart of gold that was supportive and was a good role model for her children with old fashioned values. Even in her final months the dementia couldn't dampen her sense of humor. Her true spirit still shined through the haze of confusion. "THE HEART HOLDS WHAT THE MIND CANNOT"
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband; two sisters; and two brothers. Survivors include her children, Lloyd Ray Appleton, Jr. of Merkel; Stacy Appleton Barrett and husband, David, Kenneth Appleton and wife, Traci, and Tania Appleton McKinney and husband, Frank all of Abilene; a brother, Ralph Young and wife Anita of Waverly, Illinois; grandchildren, Jody Appleton and fiancé , Tina, Amanda Thomas and husband, Cody, Kayla Krackenfels and boyfriend Alex, Bryan and Adrian Barrett, Morgan, Brandon, and Kristen Appleton, and Brianne McKinney; great-grandchildren, Ajay, Allie, and Jaimee Thomas; and Allayne and Xera Appleton. The family wishes to thank Teresa Moore, her long time caregiver and friend. Margaret will truly be missed by her family and all that knew her.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or the American Lung Association in Margaret's memory.
You may view and sign the guestbook at www.elliotthamilfuneralhome.com