Margaret E. Laws

Margaret Ellen Laws, Age 87, died September 13, 2016 surrounded by family in Manhattan, IL, she was a long time Shelby Ohio resident.
 
Born March 6, 1929 in Springfield, Ohio to Harry A. and Edna M. (Beck) Kemp she had been a Plymouth area resident since childhood,  before moving to Shelby in 1947.    In 1949 she wed her husband of 60 years Harry E. (Gene) Laws.   A 1947 graduate of Plymouth High School she was employed with the Shelby School system for three years as a secretary to Superintendent Byron Carmean.  She was an active member of First Lutheran Church, where she volunteered countless hours,  teaching Sunday School, singing in the choir,  playing in the bell choir, serving on the Alter Guild and worked as a secretary in the church office in the early 1970s.  She was a member of Shelby Women's Club, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, and was a volunteer at Shelby Hospital.  She also volunteered her services with the FISH Program, Meals on Wheels, the Community Christmas Programs, and worked on the Richland County Board of Elections.  
 
Margaret enjoyed traveling, camping, working on crafts, sewing and quilting and was a gifted speaker who had hosted many informational programs for her church and social clubs. 
 
Survivors include four daughters.  Kathy Laws of Bourbonnais,  IL,  Nancy (Chuck) Forsgren of Lincoln NE,  Stephanie (Gary) Moore of Santa Rosa Beach, FL and Susan (Gene) Sowinski of Manhattan, IL.  Ten grandchildren.  David (Melissa) Hartwig of Canandaigua, NY,  Nicholas (Rebecca) Hartwig of Chula Vista, CA.   Margaret Fortman of Lincoln, NE.   Michael (Melissa Rae) Moore of Plymouth, MN,  Eric Moore of Brainerd, MN,  Brittany (Brian) Petersen of Bemidji, MN,  twins Bradley (Melissa Ann)  of Plymouth, MN and Emma (Chad) Nelson of Bemidji, MN.    CPO, USN Karl (Trisha) Sowinski of Sanlucar de Barrameda, Spain and Mark Sowinski of Midland, TX.   Ten great grandchildren.  David Glenn Hartwig III,  Kammyle Key, Hannah Fortman, Vanessa Heyward , twins Jacob Heyward and Clairissa Heyward,  Zadek Moore,  Blake Nelson, Barrick Nelson and Gary Henry Nelson.  Nieces, nephews and other relatives.
 
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Harry E. Laws in 2009, her sister Clara Elizabeth (Betty) Pekman  in 2004 and her brother Harry  A. Kemp in 2011.
 
Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 10:00 AM September 20, 2016 at the First Lutheran Church in Shelby.
Reverend Russel Yoak will officiate with interment to follow in Greenlawn Cemetery in Plymouth.  Friends may call at Barkdull Funeral Home Monday from 3-7 PM.
Memorial expressions may be made to Plymouth Area Historical Society, 7 E. Main St.,  Plymouth, OH 44865

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