Margaret Kinard August 14, 1924 - August 07, 2018

August 24, 2018

Margaret Ellen Leckbee Blodgett Kinard was born on a farm in Knox County, near Novelty, Missouri, the daughter of Edgar and Iva (McEvoy) Leckbee. She graduated as Valedictorian from Knox City High School in Knox City, Missouri in 1942. She began working long distance for the Wisconsin Bell Telephone Company in Milwaukee Wisconsin in August 1942 and transferred to Kirksville, Missouri in 1943. At the closing of the Kirksville office, she transferred to Directory Assistance in Independence, Missouri retiring August 14, 1979.

She married Homer Oren Blodgett March 16, 1946 in Edina, Missouri. He preceded her in death Mayl3, 1983. Five children were born to this marriage: Betty (Jerry) Duncan from Downing, MO; Patricia Lattimore of Dallas, GA; Joe (Brenda) Blodgett of St. Joseph, MO: Mary (Adilio) Borja of Upland, CA; and Jeffrey (Tracie)Blodgett of Wildwood, MO.

She married Willis C. Kinard in Wakulla, FL on January 11, 1987. He preceded her in death Jun 23, 2008.

She was a member of Faith United Methodist Church, a life member of the Telephone Pioneers, past Secretary/Treasurer of Friends o St. Mary' s of Adair, served 2 years as Secretary/Treasurer of American Legion Post in Kirksville, and a member of the "Second Blessing" group at the 1st Methodist Church in Fruitland Park, FL.

Margaret was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She loved to cook, garden, play cards, and sew. She was well-known for her blueberries and sold many every year. She also donated many crafts as fundraising for those who needed it. She and Willis traveled to Florida every winter and did craft shows there. She wouldn't stay away from Kirksville very long because she wanted to be near her family. The cold winters did take her to Florida, but the phone lines were hot with calls to and from her kids and grandkids.

Besides her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents, one grandson, Jeffrey Todd Duncan in 1970, one great-grandson, Sven Alexander Harrelson in 1998 and her beloved sister, Betty Leckbee Burrus in 1987.

Those surviving her are her children, Betty and Jerry Duncan, Pat Lattimore, Joe and Brenda Blodgett, Mary and Adilio Borja and Jeff and Tracie Blodgett. Her grandchildren: Kevin Harrelson, Khristina Harrelson Cox, Nathan and Andrea Gibson, Julie and Matt Thompson, Joey and Brian Henderson, Robyn and Blain Tollefson, Daniel Blodgett, Rachel and Josh Vasalli, Ashley and Steve Luther, Kelsey and Eddie Brown and Jordon Blodgett. Her great-grandchildren: Amanda and Alex Kotanone, Craig Gochenour and Sarah Sandoval, Hannah Gochenour and Tyler Key, Alexis Gibson, Jocelyn Gibson, Camden Thompson, Joeb Gibson, Jacob Gibson, Joseph Gibson, Jonah Gibson, Gavin Tollefson, Luke Tollefson, Alana Blodgett, Tyler Blodgett, Silas Luther, Emmeline Luther, Logan Brown, her great-great grandchildren: Harper Rebecca Gochenour, Gideon Arthur Kotanone and Charlotte Grace “Charlie” Key.

Visitation with the family will be from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Thursday (August 9, 2018) with the funeral service at 2:00 p.m. Thursday at Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home with Chaplain Carrol Davenport officiating. Burial will be in Park View Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers will be Daniel Blodgett, Joeb Gibson, Jordan Blodgett, Kevin Harrelson, Tyler Key, and Craig Gochenour.

Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home

Memorials in memory Margaret are suggested to Friends of St. Mary’s or Hospice of Northeast Missouri.