Margaret A. "Margie" DeBord

1946 - 2018

Margaret "Margie" A. DeBord
PEORIA - Margaret Anne DeBord (Margie), age 71, died from acute leukemia, at OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home, with her family surrounding her with love, on May 9, 2018 in Peoria.
Margie was born Margaret Anne Plunk on December 29, 1946 to Robert Lewis and Frances Jane Carey Plunk of Mansfield, Illinois. Margie grew up on a farm outside of Mansfield and attended Mansfield elementary and high schools and Eastern Illinois University before graduating from the University of Illinois. There she met and married, on June 15, 1968, her husband, James Robert DeBord. Margie and Jim lived in Champaign, Illinois while finishing schooling at the U of I and then moved to Oak Park, Illinois where Margie taught dramatic arts for children at River Forest Junior High and Jim completed medical school and his surgery residency at the University of Illinois Hospitals, Chicago, Illinois. After Jim's residency, in July 1979, they moved to Peoria, Illinois where Jim joined Peoria Surgical Group, Ltd. and is still a practicing Peoria surgeon.
Margie was a talented portrait photographer and for many years operated the Magic Lantern Studio in Peoria Heights, Illinois before retiring. She was a member of the Peoria Medical Society Auxiliary, the Country Club of Peoria, the President's Council of the University of Illinois Foundation, and St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church.
Margie loved her life, her family, and her friends. She felt she was so fortunate to be born into a large family to parents who treasured all their children, and whose children treasured each other through childhood and adulthood. Her childhood with a loving family and doting aunts and uncles and many close cousins was a good one, and the love and support she felt from her family continued throughout her life. She had a happy and rewarding life with her much loved husband Jim, and together they raised 4 children whom she considered gifts from God and her greatest joy. After her children grew up, she was a loving and attentive grandmother. At the same time, she and Jim had more time to enjoy each other's companionship. She was a good friend to others and found great pleasure in her longtime, close friends.
Margie is survived by her husband, Dr. James R. DeBord, and their children; Byron DeBord, Chicago, Illinois; Joseph DeBord (Pam), Chicago, Illinois; Frances DeBord Malone (Sean), Iowa City, Iowa; and Celia DeBord Love (Brad), Dunlap, Illinois and four grandchildren, Nathan Malone, Betty Malone, Nolan Love, and Andrew Love. She is also survived by eight siblings: Robert Lewis Plunk III (Liz), Riverton, Illinois; William Plunk (Shirley), St. Augustine, Florida; Martha Plunk Cox, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Thomas Plunk (Joan), Mansfield, Illinois; Mary Plunk Hughes, Peoria, Illinois; David Plunk (Carol Stephens), Farmer City, Illinois; Joseph Plunk (Renee Fehr), Bloomington, Illinois; and Gregory Plunk (Kathy), Mansfield, Illinois; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Frances Plunk, and her siblings, Stephen Plunk, Carol Plunk Feeney, and James Plunk.
Visitation will be from 4-7 pm on Monday, May 14, 2018 at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 904 E. Lake Ave, Peoria Heights, IL 61616. A Funeral Mass will take place at 11 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, with an additional one hour prior visitation, also at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church. Msgr. Jason Gray will officiate. Cremation rites have been accorded with a private burial at a later date in Princeville Township Cemetery. Margie requested that in lieu of flowers, consider making a donation to "The Margaret A. DeBord Preschool Scholarship Fund" at St. Thomas School, 4229 N Monroe Ave, Peoria Heights, IL 61616.
Friends and family may sign the online guestbook or send private condolences by logging onto www.wrightandsalmon.com