Margaret Loghry

1921 - 2021

MARGARET LOGHRY North Liberty Margaret (Williams) Loghry passed away Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, at Keystone Senior Living in North Liberty. She was 99 years old. Margaret was a member of the Iowa Cremation Society and in keeping with current Covid protocols, no services or visitation will be held. Honorary memorials are encouraged to The Hawkeye Wrestling Club, Cedar Valley Humane Society or The University of Iowa Foundation to benefit the College of Nursing or Stead Family Children's Hospital. Margaret was born May 24 , 1921, in Fairbank, Iowa, the daughter of J.H. and Amelia (Lehman) Williams. Margaret enjoyed an idyllic childhood with her brother Bob and sister Mary (Oldfather) as they explored the banks of the Wapsi and Iowa small-town life. Margaret graduated from Fairbank High School in 1938 where her father had been superintendent of schools. Her connections to Fairbank continued throughout her entire life. Following her freshman year at Upper Iowa University, Margaret enrolled at The University of Iowa School of Nursing, graduating in 1943 at the peak of World War II. She was employed as a nursing supervisor in the Department of Orthopedics and taught orthopedic nursing at the university's School of Nursing, working directly for Dr. Steindler and Dr. Ponsetti Her friends urged Margaret to be active In Eastern Star and White Shrine of Jerusalem, where she met her husband, C. Ermal Loghry. She was a 50-year member of the Bethlehem Shrine and a past Worthy High Priestess. She also was a member of the Congregational Church (UCC), PEO chapter JF, University of Iowa's Presidents' Club and University Club. She was a 50-year member of the Iowa City Craft Guild. A prolific and skilled artist, Margaret created excellent artworks in metal enameling, pottery, stained glass, fused glass, spinning and weaving. From childhood, Margaret worked with glass beads and created tapestries, ornaments and jewelry, completing her last beaded Christmas ornaments for this past Christmas. Margaret and Ermal were married April 18, 1947, and soon after opened Loghry's Drive-in in Coralville. In 1959 they remodeled that restaurant into The Carousel Restaurant, which they operated until 1984. Margaret had fond memories of welcoming Artur Rubenstein, Rudolph Nureyev and thousands of others through the doors of The Carousel. In the early years, a wedding reception, including the cake, cost 75 cents a person and Margaret baked those cakes, sometimes five or six a weekend. Margaret was 45-year fan of the Iowa Wrestling program and never missed a meet or tournament, even when she had to attend in a wheelchair. After retiring, and with the sale of The Carousel, Margaret returned to University Hospitals as a volunteer where she logged more than 8,000 hours as a volunteer in various areas. Margaret is survived by her daughter Kristin (Cary) Beatty of North Liberty and her beloved nieces and nephew. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother and sister; and her husband, Ermal.