Margaret Crawford Stewart, 88, of Waterloo, formerly of Dunkerton, died Saturday, December 30, 2006, at Covenant Medical Center, of natural causes

She was born May 30, 1918, near La Porte City, Iowa, the daughter of Clarence and Jesse Ochs Crawford.

Margaret graduated from Jesup High School in 1936. For her academic excellence, she was chosen for the National Youth Program created by President F. D. Roosevelt in the 1930’s to help high school youth gain employment. During her Junior and Senior years, she was selected to be secretary to the principal at Jesup High School. After graduation, she worked for several families in Waterloo until she married.

On March 20, 1940, Margaret married John Stewart at Aunt Tina Bickley’s house in Waterloo. They were married for 64 years when he died on March 31, 2004.

They farmed the family’s century farm (est. 1867) south of Dunkerton until their retirement in 1996 when they moved to Friendship Village in Waterloo.

The Barclay Presbyterian Church and its members were Margaret’s life and extended family. She was a member of the church for 78 years and a former Deacon. Being greatly influenced by her father, she taught his adult Sunday school class for 25 years after his death. Margaret loved music and sang in the church choir and several other groups. She also was a member of the Dunkerton School Board and the Women’s Club.

She enjoyed good food and was an amazing cook, but sewing was her favorite hobby and she clothed three generations of family. Margaret was a big fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and hardly ever missed a game, even in the years when they weren’t winning. She wrote many cards and letters for all occasions and dearly missed that when she was unable to continue due to her health.

Margaret is survived by her children: son Jim Stewart of Cedar Falls; son J. T. Stewart of Sandia Park, New Mexico; son Tim Stewart of Iowa City; daughter JoAnn Torpey and her husband Dale of Washington, Iowa; daughter Suzanne Torkelson and her husband Eric of West Des Moines; nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She is also survived by brother Robert and his wife Lois Crawford of Jesup, brother Jack and his wife Grace Crawford of Chandler, Arizona, and sister Mary Sewell and her husband Roger of Waterloo.

She is preceded in death by her husband John; infant twin children: John and Margaret; sister Joan Annett, and brother Dr. D. H. Crawford.