08/20/2015
Margaret Louise (Riley) Slocum, the oldest of four children born to Bertha Mae (Folsom) and John Herbert Riley, entered this life in the small coal mining town of Tipperary in Lucas County, Iowa on October 13, 1919.
Margaret lived in Tipperary until the age of six when the mine closed and her family moved to Des Moines where her father was employed at Woods Bros. Mfg. and later at a coal mine in Orilla, Iowa. When she was in the 7th grade her father found employment at the V.A. Hospital and the family moved to Knoxville, Iowa.
Margaret attended many schools and graduated from Knoxville High School with the Class of 1937.
On December 25, 1937 she was united in marriage to Don Slocum in Des Moines, Iowa in a ceremony performed by Don’s brother, Dr. James Slocum. Three children blessed this union, all of whom survive.
Margaret found work at Knoxville stores, all of them no longer in business – Baker’s Drug Store and Elliott’s Studio being two of them. She retired from the Marion County Credit Bureau.
Margaret passed away on Thursday, August 20 at the West Ridge Nursing & Rehab Center, in Knoxville, at the age of 95 years.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 69 years; grandson, Cory Larson and three siblings: Herbert Riley, Jr., Lester Riley and spouse, Shirley and Edith Goodnight.
She is survived by her three children: Dawna Larson of Knoxville, Larry & Thelma Slocum of Ft. Collins, Colorado and Elayne & Gary Waggoner of Beaver Creek, Ohio; eight grandchildren: Curt & Kim Larson and their children: Niki & Jason Spicer, Ryan Larson and Kaylynn Shoop; Christopher & Ginger Larson and their children: Audrey, Emma and Landry; Martha Larson and children: Sunny, Kenan and Dylan; Becky & Jimbob Darnell and their children: Austin, Dallas and Wyatt; Melissa Hartman and children: Autumn and Trevor; Darin & Erin Slocum and their children: Aidan, Leah and Laura; Stephanie & Brent Sainz and their children: Brendon and Nolan and Jennifer St. Clair and children: Andrew and Kendall Beaver and many other family members and friends.
Funeral Services for Margaret Slocum, 95 of Knoxville, will be held on Saturday, August 29, 2015 at the Community of Christ Church at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery.
Visitation will begin after 10:00 a.m. Friday at the Bybee & Davis Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. In Lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Community of Christ Church or to Hospice of Pella.
Online condolences may be left at BertrandFuneralHomes.com.