Margaret Ann Ryther

Margaret Ann Ryther, née Gibson, age 86, of Dunedin, Florida, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 26, 2022 in her home.

She was born May 26, 1936 and married on September 1, 1956, both in Warren, Ohio. She and her husband Jim raised their children in Palatine, Illinois.

She was a devout Catholic and a long-time member of the Third Order of St. Francis.

She had a love of art and design (and of chocolate and ice cream), was an avid golfer, swimmer and volunteer girls soccer coach (although never having played soccer herself). She enjoyed meeting new people and making sure that no one was left out, watching old movies and dining out with her husband, and visiting with her children and their spouses and her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Her college studies were interrupted by having eight children, but she persevered and later went on to receive an associate degree in fashion design at Harper College, Palatine, Illinois and a bachelor's degree in elementary education at De Lourdes College, Des Plaines, Illinois.

She is survived by her devoted husband of nearly 66 years, James Peter Ryther, her loving sisters, Janet Smearman Greenhill of Palatine, Illinois; and Roberta (Dennis) Howell of Brandon, Mississippi; seven daughters and one son: Mary Jo (Edwin) Boldingh of Arlington Heights, Illinois; Janet (Vito) DeLiso of Dunedin, Florida; Margaret (Brian) MacLean of Sausalito, California; Susan (Martin) Gonzalez of Phoenix, Arizona; Robert (Janet) Ryther of Mendota Heights, Minnesota; Carol (George) Schultz of Arlington Heights, Illinois; Ann (Joseph) Dreher of Westlake, Ohio; and Katherine (Jay) Johnson of Cheyenne, Wyoming; 31 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her parents Byron Wesley and Rachel Marie Gibson, née Hernon, her sister Kay (Rodney) Shay of St. Francis, Kansas, and her daughter-in-law Margaret Gardner Ryther.

She will be greatly missed by all.

Donations may be made to the Franciscan Outreach Association (www.franoutreach.org).