Mrs. Margaret D. Gay Charlesworth

Margaret Dorothy Gay Charlesworth, age 91 of Temperance, passed away January 13, 2016. Born April 15, 1924 to the late Frank and Louise (Bunkelman) Gay. Margaret was a 1942 graduate of Trenton High School. Upon graduation, she worked for the Draft Board during WWII in Flat Rock. And after the war, worked at the Rockwood Post Office. She married Robert J. Charlesworth on March 18, 1950 in Rockwood and became a devoted farm wife. She learned how to care for the cows, germinate seed for planting and always made sure Bob heard the weather forecast so he would know the impact on the crops. Upon having children, became a full time homemaker. A member of the Rockwood Congregational Church, Margaret always believed in service to others. In her younger days, she raised funds for the March of Dimes, taught Sunday School, held many offices in the school Parent Teacher's Association and the church Women's Fellowship. She was also a founding member of the Rockwood Historical Society. Margaret loved to sew and spent many happy afternoons and evenings with her sewing machine humming away, even up to her later life. A favorite hobby was talking on the phone. She loved connecting with her friends and family. After decades of farming in South Rockwood, Margaret and Bob relocated to Temperance for their retirement years. An excellent cook and baker, she was well known for her cookies and was featured in a Monroe Evening News story as the cookie lady in Temperance. The family extends a special thank you to Margaret's friends in Temperance who looked out for her, brought her meals and helped her maintain her strongly desired independence in her later years. Margaret is survived by brother Richard A. Gay of Harbor Springs, MI, a son David R. (Rhondda) Charlesworth of Carleton, daughter Kay (Mark) Heil of New Boston, grandchildren Mandi Cheney, Renee Bovee, David Charlesworth, Benjamin Charlesworth, Melissa Heil and Megan Heil. Great grandchildren Brandon and Maya Bovee, Dakotah and Haiden Cheney, and Ava and Robert J. Charlesworth. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Robert in Dec. 1995, son Mark R. Charlesworth in Sept. 2015, and brothers Robert, John, and Samuel Gay. Memorials in Margaret's honor may be made to the Rockwood First Congregational Church and/ or the Rockwood Historical Society.