Margaret Ann (Newell) Anderson

Margaret Ann Clyde (Newell) Anderson, 87, of Winfield, Kansas, passed away Saturday, December 8, at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.

Margaret Ann, the daughter of Robert and Jessie (Litle) Newell, was born on October 10, 1931, in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Although Margaret Ann was her first name she became known as Margaret. She met Donald W. Anderson at a church dance. After a sufficient time period Mr. Newell asked Don about his intentions toward his daughter...they were married September 10, 1955. And then the adventure began! Margaret Ann worked at various jobs, including the Royal Bank of Canada and various secretarial positions while Don attended University of Windsor. She was an excellent typist which came in handy for Don’s papers and later for her children. Margaret tried to get Elizabeth (Beth), Robert and David to take a typing class in school but they did not comply. Karen did take the typing class and “strongly disliked” the class. Margaret Ann remained the resident typist for the family with the exception of her obituary and eulogy. I’m sure she is grinning from above!

Don accepted a position at Southwestern College and in the summer of 1966 the Andersons drove in a car without air conditioning from Gardner, Massachusetts to Winfield. Margaret Ann was 7 months pregnant with child number 4. After a short residency on 8 Ave the Andersons moved to 5 Avenue where they have lived for over 50 years.

Just shy of the youngest child entering Kindergarten, Margaret decide to earn a college degree in Primary Education from Southwestern College. She excelled in her classes with the exception of one professor whom she thought was “too critical” on a project paper. Margaret expressed her opinion to Professor Anderson when he returned home for dinner. She earned her degree in 1972 and Master of Education from WSU in 1979. She was honored to student teach with Janice Rhodes, who she considered to be a master at classroom teach. She began her teaching career at Country View Elementary School where she taught 2nd grade. She loved teaching! She loved creating bulletin boards, board games and sewing take home books from wallpaper samples. The Social studies lesson about Eskimos was her favorite. When Margaret announced that she was changing schools in the fall of 1997, one parent protested “You can’t move. I still have one child left!” At Lowell Elementary she was a Reading specialist. The program was originally called Title 1 Reading. She had the privilege of teaching many students for whom English was their second language. Margaret was very impressed with their perseverance as they struggled with two very different languages. Some were trying to teach their parent English at night. She loved watching her students progress. One year during the Olympics, she created a 3-D ski slope, each student had a skier and as goals were met their piece would advance down the hill. I’m sure she worked the sport of curling into the lesson as well.

Margaret and Don became members of Grace United Methodist Church shortly after moving to town. She served on many church committees and made several UMYF dinners thru the years. They were a part of the Builder Sunday school class. Margaret enjoyed helping with the community dinner program called Thursday Night Supper. Margaret joined the Progressive Sunday School class which Reverend Allen Polen founded. She was known to be quiet but on occasion would surprise them with her humor.

Margaret established lifelong friendships in Delta Kappa Gamma, Southwestern College Faculty Dames, Grace United Methodist Church and PEO Chapter FD. Margaret was initiated into Chapter R in Massachusetts. Both of her daughters, Beth and Karen were initiated into Chapter FD before moving to Wichita. She was thrilled to learn that her daughter-in-law Charlene and granddaughter Emma are to be initiated into a chapter in WaKeeney in 2019. Margaret was proud of Winfield and worked with the Main Street program to beautify downtown and to encourage local shopping.

Margaret is survived by her husband, Don of 63 years of Winfield. Her beloved children Robert (Mary) Anderson of Webster Groves, Missouri, David (Charlene) Anderson of WaKeeney, Kansas and Karen Anderson of Wichita. Her wonderful grandchildren Kelly, Katie and Kerry of Missouri and Emma and Benjamin of WaKeeney. Margaret enjoyed her Canadian kin: cousins Mary Lou (Mike) Phelan of Clancy, Montana, David (Claire) Smith of Ottawa, Canada, her nieces and nephews Tim and John Theaker, of Ontario, Canada, Valerie (Gil) DeGuire of Windsor, Canada Ann (Barry) Munholland, Oakville, Canada and Dianne (Skip) Ray, Vancouver, Canada and Nancy Cannon of Gatineau, Canada and their children. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother John and sister Elizabeth and daughter Beth.

Memorial services will be held at 10 AM Saturday, January 5, 2019 at Grace United Methodist Church of Winfield. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Margaret’s name may be made to: the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, the Grace United Methodist Church Neighbor’s Program, and the Legacy Regional Community Foundation – Margaret Anderson Fund for Children’s Literature. Donations may be left in care of the Shelley Family Funeral Home of Winfield or Grace United Methodist Church.

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