Margaret M. "Margie" Petry

Margaret M. "Margie" Petry, 84, North Manchester, IN, 84, North Manchester, IN died at 6:55 a.m. Monday, December 8, 2014 in Timbercrest Healthcare Center, North Manchester, IN. She was born August 10, 1930 in Akron, OH to Joseph Clyde & Rachel Merle (Barr) James. Growing up in a woods, she became an animal lover and amateur artist. Later in life, she continued her love for animals and was both an accomplished fisherperson and a professional artist. Her artwork is proudly on display in the homes of family and friends all over this country and in Nigeria, West Africa, where she and her husband were missionaries from 1963-1969. Many of her works are found at Camp Alexander Mack, where the newest Church of the Brethren mural was conceived, created, completed and signed by her. She married her high school sweetheart, Kaydo, on August 20, 1950, and supported him while he completed four years at Manchester College and three more at Bethany Seminary, then in Chicago, Illinois. After leaving Bethany, they pastored at Spring Creek, IN Church of the Brethren; Batavia, IL, Church of the Brethren; and Wabash, IN, Church of the Brethren before heading for the Nigerian mission field. When they returned, they pastored at the Eel River, IN Church of the Brethren, and Margie finished up her four-year college degree at Manchester College just a year before her eldest child followed her lead! She then became a high school art teacher for seventeen years, teaching at two area high schools: Caston1973-1979 and Northfield 1979-1991. She earned both her Master's degree and a life teaching license during the course of her teaching years. Margie enjoyed laughing, singing hymns, comforting animals, reveling in the world's beauty, and showing love to her family and friends. Margie was a loving, devoted Christian wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother as well as an excellent, dedicated teacher and kind, generous friend to the many she knew. She was a member of Manchester Church of the Brethren, North Manchester, IN. She is survived by her husband, Carroll "Kaydo" Petry, North Manchester, IN; one son, Daniel Mark (Amy) Petry, Bristol, IN; two daughters, Dianne Louise (Rich) Wion, North Manchester, IN and Darlene Kay (Doug) Miller, Dillsburg, PA; one brother, Glenn E. (Ida Jean) James, Akron, OH; seven grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren. One great grandchild and one sister are deceased. Memorial Service will be December 22, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at Manchester Church of the Brethren, 1306 N. Beckley Street, North Manchester, IN. The family will receive friends following the service. Pastor Kurt Borgmann and Pastor Karen Eberly will officiate. Burial will be in Ulrey Memorial Cemetery, Silver Lake, IN. For those who would like to honor the memory of Margie Petry, memorial contributions may be made to Timbercrest Senior Living Community, Charitable Assistance Fund, PO Box 501, North Manchester, IN 46962. To send a private condolence to the Petry family, use the condolence link on the homepage.