Margaret Arrant Mosley

Margaret Arrant Mosley, 76, passed away on Tuesday, August 25, 2020 at her home in Madisonville. Visitation will be at Madisonville Funeral Home on Saturday, September 5, 2020 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. A family graveside service will be held on September 6, 2020 in Stoneham, Texas.

Margaret was born on July 17, 1944 to William “Bill” and Margaret Stoneham Arrant in Navasota. Pinky, as she was known to family and childhood friends, was a spunky, independent child who preferred jeans and cowboy boots to dresses and tea parties (much to her beloved Grandmother’s chagrin.) Many happy hours were spent astride her pony, Spot, red pigtails flying behind her as she reimagined her favorite western television shows.
In 1952, when Margaret was only eight years old, she contracted polio and would spend most of the next year recovering in a Houston hospital, often away from family and all that was familiar. Her inherent grit and determination helped her through, and she managed to find fun in the midst of it all, sometimes leading the charge of racing wheelchairs through the hospital corridors. The disease changed her body, but only enhanced her spirit, and she never allowed subsequent physical challenges to prevent her from fully enjoying life.

Margaret graduated from Navasota High School in 1962, having won the coveted Betty Crocker Homemaker of the Year award. Those who knew Margaret well will understand just how funny this was to her! She went on to study speech therapy at Texas Women’s University, where she enjoyed participating in theater, having great fun with friends, and running the occasional drag race. Margaret also attended Texas A&M University, putting herself through school by working two jobs and managing to make the Dean’s List every semester. Margaret taught one semester at the Kurten School before it was closed down – supposedly there was no connection between those two events, but it was enough for Margaret to know that a teaching career was probably not the right choice for her.

In January, 1970 Margaret married Jim Mosley and moved to Madisonville, and they welcomed their daughter, Lynne, later that year. Over the next few years, Margaret worked as a bookkeeper for Kay & Herring, Allen Auto Parts and the Madison County Livestock Auction, just to name a few. In the late 1970’s, she became co-owner of The Apple Tree Florist and Gift Shop, in partnership with Linda Westmoreland. She loved working with plants and flowers and after selling her stake in the shop, she worked alongside Bill Jeter and Everett Wooten in their nursery and landscaping business. Margaret is best known for the 25 years she spent at Madisonville State Bank, where she was a teller and customer service representative. Many looked to Margaret to help them make sense of their check registers (her daughter included!) Margaret enjoyed people and was a friend to everyone she met.

Post-polio syndrome made its nasty appearance known in the 1980’s, and thus began a slow, often painful decline in Margaret’s strength and overall health. The fighting spirit that saw her through the disease as a child was still there, and she never lost her smile or positive attitude – no matter what challenges were thrust upon her.

Margaret is preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Margaret Arrant, and her beloved husband, Jim. She is survived by her daughter, Lynne Mosley of Madisonville, a beloved sister, Fran Arrant Gladden (John) of Leona, and two precious nieces, Laura Horacefield (Paul) of League City, and Sara Nash (Robert) of Leona. She especially loved her great nieces and nephews, Taylor and Meghan Horacefield, and Britton and Clayton Nash.

Margaret’s family extends a special thanks to her “caring angels”, Crystal Mack, KayKay Terrell, and Raven Colter, without whom life at home these past months would have been that much harder.

Two organizations were precious to Margaret. Her beloved church and church family, and her animals. As such, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her name to either the Highway 90 Church of Christ, P.O. Box 1138, Madisonville, or to Rufus Refuge, www.rufusrefuge.org.