Margaret Johnston Colson was born May 6, 1912 in rural Henry County near Piper, Missouri to William Henry Johnston and Lillie Phoebe Davis Johnston. She was the youngest of nine children. Margaret died April 5, 2006 at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton, Missouri at the age of 93.

Margaret spent her entire life in the Montrose and Urich communities. Margaret married Keith Colson March 16, 1932, Margaret and Keith had two children, William W "Bill" and Carolyn. Margaret and Keith farmed east of Montrose for many years before retiring in Montrose in 1965 and she later moved into Urich Senior Housing, Margaret moved in with her daughter and family Carolyn and Bill Kelsay in 1994. For 10 years she enjoyed making quilts, beautiful handiwork and the company of her grandson, Michael. She was most happy doing garden work, handiwork, and spending time with her nieces and nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren. The love of her family and friends was demonstrated the last few years of her life by making many beautiful quilts and other beaded handiwork.

Margaret was a member of Urich Baptist Church.


She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Keith: son Bill and brother:; Arthur Johnston, Howard Johnston and wife Bretha, Cecil Johnston, Fred Johnston and , wife Mabel: sisters Lola Wessell and husband Paul, Theta Walker and husband Marlin, May Doll and husband Albert, Violet Zehnder and husband Roy; brothers -in-law Kenneth Colson and wife Nannie, Lee Colson and wife Ruth, and sister-in-law Mary Colson.

Survivors include her daughter Carolyn and husband Bill Kelsay of Urich; daughter-in law Carolyne Colson of Deepwater; grandchildren Kevin Colson and wife Beth of Montrose, Sherry Moore of Kansas City, Shanda Sander and husband Kevin of Independence, Michael Kelsay of Urich; great-grandchildren Dallas and Kelsay Sander of Independence, Emma and Jake Moore of Kansas City; brother-in-Iaw Walter Colson of Tulare, California; many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will held at Vansant-Mills Funeral Home in Clinton on April 8, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Gary Patterson officiating. Buria1 in White Oak Cemetery near Urich, Mo. PaIlbearers are Robert Zehnder, Carl Clemmons, Kevin Sanders, Michael Kelsay, Jim Kelsay and Bill Harris, Honorary pallbearer is Lloyd Zehnder. Memorials are to Urich Baptist Church, Urich, Mo.