Margaret Ann Beadles Obituary

Margaret Ann (Pray) Beadles, age 86, of Heath, TX, passed away on November 5, 2019, after an extended illness. She was born January 1, 1933, in Edinburg, TX, to Harry V. B. Pray and Mary Asenath (Dobson) Pray, she being the third daughter of five: Shirley Jean Dreiss, Charlotte Merlene Landry, Margaret Ann Beadles, Evelyn Lucille “Ikey” Eskridge, and Marilyn Louise Woolsey. Her family moved to Kerrville, TX, in 1945 to seek treatment for her father’s Addisons disease, but moved to Tulsa, OK, after his death a year later.

She returned to Kerrville in 1953, when her husband, Murray, gained employment with the US Department of Agriculture. Together, they raised six children. During this time Margaret Volunteered much of her time to helping the less fortunate. She founded the Edwards Plateau Arts and Crafts Center (EPAC) which worked with special needs children. She also organized an annual Arts and Crafts fair featuring their work as well as local artists.

In cooperation with the public school system and the State Welfare Department, Margaret established the Dwyer Community Center in a low-income neighborhood in Kerrville which offered self-help and educational programs for all.

In 1975, Margaret entered Texas A&M University and earned a BA in Anthropology. Previously, as a member of the Hill Country Archaeological Society, she volunteered at the Balcones Research Center in Austin, Texas to repair Indian pottery. She traveled to Mexico and studied primitive firing techniques of American, Mexican, and some African potters and demonstrated these firing methods to artists of all ages. As a result, Margaret was given academic credits for her community services graduating in two years from a 4-year program in the top 10% of her class.

In 1984, Margaret entered UTMB in Galveston, TX, and obtained a BS in nursing. After graduation, she chose to work at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. She then came home to Texas to finish her working years in hospice.

Margaret’s dream ranch became a reality in 1990 when she purchased acreage near Florence, TX. She asked her son Hugh to build a log cabin with an overhead loft, cast iron stove, and large porches. Many children, grandchildren, and visitors “decompressed” from city life rocking on the porch, watching birds, and enjoying the view.

When Margaret’s health began to fail, she sold the ranch and became a resident of Rockwall, TX, to be near her daughter Teresa’s family. After further health issues, she was moved to an assisted living facility in Heath, TX, where she received excellent hospice care. Throughout all this, she took great pleasure in watching and feeding “her birds”.

Margaret is survived by her sons: Mark and Hugh; daughters: Karen, Sharon “Boo”, and Teresa. She has nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Margaret was preceded in death by her daughter: Sandra Lynn and her Ex-husband: Murray Lucas Beadles.

Our appreciation to the staff at Good Life Assisted Living and to Magnolia Hospice especially Melanie Hutchinson, RN for her compassionate care.

A celebration of Margaret’s life will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday, November 8, 2019, at Reflections at Rest Haven Funeral Home-Rockwall Location.