Margaret Helen Roper Houser, 98, passed away quietly in her sleep on Sunday, January 22, 2017. She was born to Henry Lawson and Kate Amy (nee Allen) Roper in Winnsboro, Texas on June 15, 1918. Her mother always joked that her family was so glad when she was born during WWI because they got 5 more pounds of sugar and flour.
Margaret joined Park Street Baptist Church on August 28, 1927 at the age of nine. On August 5, 2007, she was honored for being a member for 80 years. She served as secretary of the Ruth class for several years.
Margaret graduated from Greenville Senior High School in 1936. She later attended Mrs. Burnett’s secretarial school. Mrs. Houser retired from the business office of Citizens General hospital (Now Hunt Regional Memorial Hospital) after 15 years of service.
On April 16, 1938, she married the love of her life, Maurice “Shep” Houser and there were married 55 years until his death in 1993. To this happy union was born three children; Jerry Maurice, Dennis Mark and Lisa Gail.
She is survived by her daughter Lisa Houser Arnold and husband, Melvin; grandchildren D’Ann Houser Zint, Tanya Philips Yabusaki, Jessie Arnold, Angela Houser Horton and husband, Leslie, Kevin Houser and wife, Amy, Shannon Arnold Foltz and husband, Robert; great-grandchildren, Daniel Zint and wife, Charity, James Zint and wife, Amanda, Heather Zint Clark and husband, Daniel, Jimmy VanHuss, Jr., Brandon Yabusaki, Keith Lane, Kurt Lane, Eric Yabusaki, Chelsea Houser, Ryan Marney, Nickolas Marney, Leslie Arnold, Hayden Foltz; great-great-grandchildren, Kamryn Zint, Cade Zint, Kennedy Zint, Addison Zint, Kipton Lane, Kaleigh Yabusaki; nephews, Jack Read and wife, Janette and Vincent Huff.
She was preceded in death by her husband “Shep” in 1993 and beloved sons Dennis in 1964 and Jerry in 2009, her mother in 1944, her father in 1921, her step-father, Oscar Powell in 1964; brothers, Carl Ramsey in 1929, J. D. Ramsey in 1969, Victor Roper in 1984; sisters, Grace Read Spoonemore in 1992 and Mabrie Powell Huff in 2016.
We mourn her passing but feel so privileged to have been a part of her life for so long. We are thankful that God chose to make her a part of ours. She will live forever in our hearts. May she rest in peace in the presence of our Heavenly Father and Our Sweet Jesus forever.
Her ability to make others smile was the never ending beautiful smile on her face. It was her wish to have her funeral on Sunday afternoon so no one would have to miss church of work to attend.
Her great-grandchildren will be her pallbearers.
Viewing will be Saturday, January 28th at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Her funeral service will be at Park Street Baptist Church on Sunday, January 29th at 2:00 PM. Rev. Johnny Hailes will officiate. Interment will follow at Memoryland Memorial Park.
The family requests memorials be made to Park Street Baptist Church, 2205 Park St., Greenville, Texas 75401.