Margaret Royal age 98 of Clinton, Missouri, passed away, Saturday, April 29, 2023 at Jacob’s Ladder Care Center, Springfield, Missouri.
Margaret (Reding) Royal was born April 13, 1925, in St. Mary’s, Kansas. She was the third child to Joseph and Elizabeth Reding. She attended school in St. Mary’s where she graduated in 1942. She played basketball while in high school and was known for her underhanded shooting style from the free throw line.
Margaret moved to Kansas City, Missouri at the age of 18 and took a job at the Kansas City Stock Exchange. After a few years, she moved back to Topeka, Kansas where she lived in a boarding house with her friend and roommate Vi. While there, Margaret and Vi were introduced to a young man named Raymond Royal. Both Margaret and Vi were invited to go out for the evening with Raymond and one of his friends. Since both girls wanted to be with Raymond, they decided they would have a foot race to the car to see who got to sit in the front seat with Raymond. Margaret won the race and, as they say, the rest is history.
Margaret and Raymond were married on June 23, 1945. To this union six children were born, Pat, Linda, Marilyn, Kenny, Bobby, and Tommy. The family lived in Rossville, Kansas and Topeka, Kansas during this time and Margaret took a civil service job at Forbes Air Force base in Topeka.
In the fall of 1965, the family relocated to Clinton, Missouri for Raymond’s work in construction. With the Vietnam War ramping up, the eldest son, Pat, entered the Army and was sent to Vietnam in early 1966. The family was dealt a tragic blow when Pat was killed in action on October 2, 1966, at the age of 19. Pat was buried in Englewood Cemetery and Margaret has attended every Memorial Day celebration there for the past 55 years. Margaret was one of the oldest living Gold Star mothers in both Missouri and the United States.
Margaret was a devout Catholic and the Royal family attended the Holy Rosary Church. Margaret was active with the Alter Society and Ladies Auxiliary at the church. She was active in the local VFW.
On April 2, 1985, Raymond passed away and Margaret was left to be the guiding force of the family. She became involved in Hospice and was honored as the Volunteer of the Year in 1986. She spent several years as an election official in Henry County and enjoyed those times working with friends. Margaret remained active at Holy Rosary Church until her health no longer allowed her to attend in person. She was able to get out occasionally and loved going to Wanda’s to get her hair done and catch up on the local news with the other ladies at the salon. She loved watching the Kansas City Royals and Wheel of Fortune. She would root for the Chief’s, although she didn’t understand football. She just knew if her kids cheered, she’d cheer!
Margaret loved her family and friends deeply and she loved the Lord. Margaret was preceded in death by her mother and father, Joseph, and Elizabeth, two brothers Ed and Gene, her husband Raymond, son Pat and one great grandchild, Nicholas. She is survived by her daughter Linda (Jerry) Cochran of Clinton, daughter Marilyn (George) Wilhite of Clinton, son Kenny (Sherri) Royal of Clinton, son Bobby Royal of Clinton and son Tommy (Sherry) Royal of Springfield Missouri. In addition, she is survived by 9 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren.
Margaret lived an extraordinary life full of love. The Royal family would like to express their deepest appreciation to everyone for their kindness during this time. As so eloquently put by a friend, “I can’t help but feel that our earthly lives have been diminished by Grandma Royal’s passing, and yet our fear of the hereafter is also diminished by the certainty that she will be there.”
A funeral mass for Margaret was held May 6, 2023 at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Clinton with Father Jim Taranto and Rev. David Mills officiating. Special music included “Amazing Grace, Be Not Afraid, Ava Maria, Shepherd Me Oh God, On Eagles Wings and How Great Thou Art.” The pallbearers were Shawn Wilhite, Jared Royal, Josh Royal, Jason Royal, Jeremy Cochran, Jamie Royal. Interment followed in Englewood Cemetery, Clinton, MO.
Services were under the direction of Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, MO.
