Margaret Marie Towner (Hals)

MARGARET MARIE TOWNER

December 16, 1925 ~ March 11, 2015

Margaret Marie Towner, 89 passed away March 11, 2015 in Alva, Oklahoma. Margaret was born December 16, 1925 in Rush City, Minnesota to Frederick William and Theresa (King) Hals. Margaret graduated from Rush City High School in 1943. Following graduation she worked for two years in St. Paul as a soda jerk and at Western Electric. In 1945 Margaret and her sister Shirley decided to they wanted to go elsewhere to work so they pulled out a map, closed their eyes and their fingers landed on the small town of Saguache, Colorado where they worked for a summer.  They returned to Minnesota for the winter months but returned to Colorado the following summer where Margaret met Lloyd Eugene Towner. They were married September 1, 1946 in Canon City, Colorado. Lloyd and Margaret owned the Gunnison Locker Service from 1951 to 1957 and then they bought a ranch on Ohio Creek north of Gunnison.  They ranched there until 1976 when they then moved to Olathe.  After Lloyd passed away Margaret continued to ranch until she retired in 2000. Margaret then moved to Delta, Colorado.  In December 2009 Margaret relocated to Alva, Oklahoma.

Margaret loved the ranching life, gardening and the outdoors including hunting and picnicking.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, Frederick and Tracy Hals; her husband, Lloyd; and three sisters, Violet, Clarice and Shirley. Margaret is survived by her sons, Richard Towner of Payette, Idaho, and Mark Towner of Alva, Oklahoma; daughter, Kathleen Shaw of Springville, Utah; her brother, Lyle Hals of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania; eight grandchildren, William Shaw of Braselton, Georgia, John Shaw of Jonesburg, Missouri, Daniel Shaw of Columbus, Nebraska, Sarah Grunig of Boise, Idaho, Clayton Shaw of Strasburg, Colorado, Suzannah Beasley of Salt Lake City, Utah, Karen Showell of Orem, Utah, and Beck Towner of Alva, Oklahoma; 23 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held on Thursday, March 19 at 2:00 p.m. at Crippin Funeral Home Chapel. 802 E. Main St. in Montrose, Colorado.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity in Margaret’s name.  Crippin Funeral Home, & Crematory, Montrose, Colorado is assisting the family.