SAN ANGELO Margie Matheny, longtime San Angelo resident, passed peacefully from this world on Monday, Oct. 20, 2014, in the comfort of her home. At a youthful 94 years, Margie was actively engaged in an independent, busy and productive life until her illness in late June. Even then she fought valiantly to return to her demanding schedule by working hard in Baptist Retirement Community Skilled Nursing Unit, but Heaven must have needed a dedicated volunteer so the angels called her home. Born Feb. 19, 1920, in Hempstead, Texas, as Marguerite Juanita Weber, but always known as Margie, she was raised by her grandmother in Alvin, Texas, separate from her mother, Lillian Bishop Weber, and her half-sister Marie. Facing deep poverty as a child, she overcame every obstacle to finish high school and later took community college classes, a first in her family. She made extra money baby-sitting children, some of whom maintained a deep friendship with her throughout her life. With careful savings in her youth, she purchased a guitar and learned to play it, a cherished instrument that is still a family heirloom. Margie often said she began working in her teens and never stopped, even holding a job at the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center to the end of her life. Working as a waitress in 1941, she met and married J.M. Kenley, with whom she had two daughters. Following her grandmother's death in 1950, she and her family moved to Kilgore, Texas, to be near her husband's mother and aunt. There she worked for Thornhill Publishing Company, a precursor of General Telephone Directory Company, and later Verizon. As a proofreader, she was unsurpassed and throughout her life she delighted in noting spelling and grammar errors in print media. Other occupations she held were as a telephone operator, salesperson and compilation clerk. With this additional income, she was able to provide dance classes, piano lessons and birthday parties for her daughters. After moving to San Angelo to continue her career with the phone company, she met and married the love of her life, Curnel W. Matheny. Together they developed his house painting business even as she continued to work full-time and help raise his six children. This was the prime of her life; she and Curnel enjoyed fishing and camping in their homemade RV, country western dancing at VFW Hall and loving their many children and grandchildren. Following his untimely death in 1986, Margie's volunteer activities became legend. Starting with work in the ICU at Shannon Hospital where Curnel died, she stepped up to fill important roles in the Shannon Women's and Children's Clinic, Concho Cadre, Tom Green County Historical Society, Historic San Angelo, Telephone Pioneers, Concho Valley Archeological Society, Humane Society and most notably as a member of the Fort Concho docents and volunteers. It was her volunteer work at Fort Concho that became the center of her life: assisting in cataloging archives, giving tours of Officers' Quarters Three and the hospital, serving as a pioneer school teacher, offering talks on 1880s manners and customs and serving as chairperson of the commissary building for Christmas at Old Fort Concho. Largely because of Margie's extensive volunteer work and involvement in civic activities, in the mid-1990s she was chosen one of the "50 Most Important People in San Angelo," through a community poll. Margie is survived by her devoted daughter and son-in-law, Penny K. Sunlove and Layne Winklebleck; stepchildren Gayle Potts, Ann Burton, Jayne Peery, John Matheny and Becky Booth; loving daughter-in-law Cathy and son-in-law Dayton Box; grandson Damian Orduna; step-grandchildren Billy Potts, Stephen Potts, Dawn Baldwin, Carrie Archer, Leah Bandergriff, Marcus Davis, Jason Box, Malissa Blackburn, Curtis Matheny, Desiree Mhoon, Cassie Castaneda and J.D. Johnson; some 24 great-grandchildren; plus numerous nieces and nephews. Margie was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Curnel Matheny; her daughter, Janis Braue of Tyler, Texas; her half-sister, Marie of Longview, Texas; and her step-grandson, Cory Booth. The family wishes to extend its sincere appreciation to the Baptist Home Health and Hospice team for the devoted care they gave Margie in her final weeks. A celebration of Margie's life will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014, in the commissary building on the grounds of Fort Concho, 630 S. Oakes St., San Angelo, 325-481-2646. With arrangements by Shaffer Funeral Home, Margie Matheny was interred next to Curnel in Fairmount Cemetery in San Angelo, Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations to the following charities are welcomed in Margie's honor: Fort Concho Foundation, 630 S. Oakes St., San Angelo, TX, 76903; or Concho Valley Humane Society, dba PAWS, 4001 Sunset Drive, Suite #1072, San Angelo, TX 76904. Online condolences may be made to shafferpioneer.com. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/gosanangelo/obituary.aspx?n=marguerite-j-margie-matheny&pid=172932381#sthash.miQh5Mxy.dpuf