Mary Margaret (Keeling) Erwin

Funeral services for Margaret (Keeling) Erwin, age 81, of Dallas, will be held 10 A.M., Friday, December 7, 2018 at First United Methodist Church in Centerville, Texas. Pastor Joy Richards will officiate the service followed by interment in the Centerville Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday, December 6th from 5 P.M. to 7 P.M. at the Walters Funeral Home in Centerville.

Mary Margaret (Keeling) Erwin was born November 17, 1937 in Centerville, Texas. She was the oldest of seven children and only girl of Alvis S. & Freddie Eloise (Hall) Keeling. Margaret was raised in Centerville and grew up helping the rest of her family in her father’s laundry business. She had earned a Bachelors Degree in Business from Sam Houston State University.

Margaret began her career teaching school in Snook followed by Channelview. She then worked as secretary and editor to Bill Hobby at the Houston Post, now the Houston Chronicle. As a result of her tedious attention to detail in her work at the Houston Post, Margaret could never again read another newspaper without a red pen in one hand correcting editing mistakes and would often have to stop herself from correcting all of the various books she read. Following her work at the Houston Post, Margaret was executive secretary to the medical director of Texas Medical Center in Houston.

Margaret’s most important occupation was that of wife and mother. Throughout all of her time spent at work, Margaret always made sure that she was at home to greet her children when they arrived from school. Her family was her top priority and there was no doubt in their minds that they weren’t. This caring compassion continued on after the birth of her grandchildren.

Margaret’s favorite pastime was working in her yard, especially her flower gardens, and she wasn’t satisfied unless she was getting her hands dirty. She had a green thumb and it showed. She became known in her community as the “neighborhood mother” due to the fact that anyone new to the area was always welcomed and taken care of by Margaret. She would make sure that they knew where all of the important places were and how to get to them. She was a friend to everyone she met. Margaret and her husband shared a love of travel. One of their favorite destinations was London, England where they had traveled numerous times.

Perhaps Margaret’s most memorable quality that her family will hold dear was her storytelling ability; especially stories of her childhood growing up in Centerville. Margaret grew up as a child working with her family in their laundry business and would often recall occurrences, such as, learning to drive in a laundry delivery truck, among other humorous happenings.

Margaret had lived in the Dallas area since 1979, coming from Philadelphia, PA and Houston. She was a former member of Arapaho Methodist Church. Margaret passed away December 1, 2018 in Plano, Texas and was preceded in death by both of her parents; infant brother, Alvis Edward Keeling and brother, Kenneth Keeling.

Surviving family members include husband of forty-eight years, Frank Erwin of Dallas; son, Thomas Erwin (Stephanie) of Dallas; step-sons, Mark Erwin of Temple, David Erwin of Temple and Jeffery Erwin (Terri) of Charleston, SC; daughter, Cindy Larsen (Ian) of Dallas; brothers, Leonard Keeling (Marlene) of Montgomery, Mickey Keeling (Virginia) of Houston, Pete Keeling (Nancy) of Houston and Jack Keeling (Mary) of Centerville and grandchildren, Samantha, Gabriel, Erin and Curtis Erwin. Margaret is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Arrangements are under the direction of Walters Funeral Home in Centerville, Texas.