Margaret Nell Roberts

Funeral services for Margaret Nell Hagedorn Roberts, 90, of Longview will be held on Friday December 28, 2012 at Rader Funeral Home in Longview, with the Reverend Kim Hagedorn and Reverend Ricky Ricks officiating. Burial will follow at Lakeview Memorial Garden with Eastern Star and Rainbow Girls graveside services. A beloved mother, sister, Granny and Gigi, Mrs. Roberts passed away December 24, 2012 at Beacon Hospice after a lengthy illness. Margaret was born January 6, 1922 in Sandoval, Illinois to Frank and Minnie Hagedorn. She attended and graduated from the Sandoval School system. The second of four children, and the only girl, Margaret quickly developed an independent nature and vivacious, adventurous spirit that led to many fantastic trips and experiences. Of these, the most recent and memorable were parasailing in Hawaii at the age of 70, touring Israel by camelback at 78, riding in a hot air balloon at 80, riding jet skis across Table Rock Lake, Missouri at 82, and at 83 tubing on the Guadalupe in Central Texas with oxygen tank attached. The family often marveled at her stamina while running to keep up. Thankfully, her doctors nixed her wish to sky dive over the last several years! Margaret credits her oldest brother Jack for introducing her to a work buddy that became the love of her life. She married J.E. "Bob" Roberts on May 30, 1942 and had three children. The young family moved across Illinois and Ohio following the Sohio pipeline until moving to Texas in 1964. They settled in Longview and became fixtures at Greggton United Methodist Church where she maintained membership until her passing. She worked as an L.V.N. at Pinewood Medical Clinic for several years. A lifetime member of the order of the Eastern Star and serving in local chapters as well as the Grand Chapter of Texas, she was able to see four generations of her family active in Eastern Star, Masons, and Rainbow Girls. She was a longtime member of the Friendship Sunday school class at Greggton as well as XYZ and UMW. She was a lifelong supporter of the Boy Scouts of America, and the proud mother and grandmother of three Eagle Scouts. Having never had the opportunity to attend college herself, Granny, as she was affectionately known, made certain that education was a priority. Some of her proudest moments came from watching her all of her children and grandchildren graduate from college. Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and brothers. She is survived by her daughter Junell Nichols and husband Jerry of Longview; daughter Sandy Gilbert and husband Pat of College Station, Texas; and son Alan Roberts and wife Dorothy of Longview. Also left to carry on her memory are five grandchildren and spouses Brian Smith and wife DeAnna of Longview; Juliet Roberts Wallace and husband Danny of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Candice Roberts Forsyth and husband Michael of Grand Prairie, Texas; Captain Kyle Gilbert and wife Marcy of Montgomery, Alabama; and Leslie Gilbert Baumeister and husband Jason of Galveston, Texas. The light of her life were her two great-grandsons Rhett and Rylan Wallace of Virginia Beach, who lovingly called her Gigi, and her great-granddaughters Chastity Boone of Longview and Ada Baumeister of Galveston. She is also survived one brother-in-law R. L. "Rusty" Roberts of Longview, and one sister-in-law Lois Ruth Roberts of Vidor; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and a bountiful extended family. A special group of friends, "The Dirty Half Dozen plus One" held a cherished place in her heart. The family would like to extend special thanks to Suzanne Fair, Ilene Rice, Robin Dawson, Dr. Margaret Schottstaedt, and Beacon Hospice, who provided such tender and loving care during the last months of her life. In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorials be made to Beacon Hospice, Greggton UMC, Newgate Mission, or Asbury House Child Enrichment Center.