Margaret M. Pope

On November 21, 2016, Margaret (Catherine) Messick Pope was called to be with her Lord. She is at peace with those she had long loved and has missed. Margaret was born on August 27, 1918, at Sunset Farm, at Kirkham in Talbot County. Her parents were the late Walter Willis Wilson Messick and Lottie Mae (Smith) Messick. She was the eldest of 8 children; all of whom predeceased her. Her family managed farming operations in the Bay Hundred, and later raised their family while residing on Grace Street in St. Michaels. Graduating from the St. Michaels High School in 1936, Margaret assisted her family at home while her father worked for the Chesapeake Bay Ferry System. During the late 1930s, she met Ebe Holland Pope of Salisbury, whose late parents were Milton Herbert Pope Sr., and Lizzie May GibbsEbe had been assigned to the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company Store on Talbot Street as a meat cutter. They were later married in Talbot County on June 16, 1940, and enjoyed 45 years of marriage until his death on November 30, 1985. During the war service of her husband in North Africa and Guadalcanal, she provided assistance to service member families while working at the St. Michaels Elementary School. Margaret later worked in the millinery shops of Sirkins Dry Goods and Atkinson’s Dress Shop in Easton. Following Ebe’s career in grocery marketing and wholesaling, she was later co-owner of the Prime Rib Meat Market on Harrison Street in Easton. Margaret was known to be an avid duck pin bowler, and she and Ebe were active members of the National Camping Travelers. Her family were members of the Calvary Methodist Church in Easton, later becoming charter members of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church when the churches merged. At St. Mark’s, Margaret participated in the Thrift Shop, Altar Guild, the Gladys Oberlin and Deborah Circles, and taught Sunday School with Ebe for a number of years. She was most proud of her faith, and the many great friends that shared it with her. Margaret was an active member of the Easton Chapter #69, Order of the Eastern Star, following Ebe’s involvement in the Masonic Order. She was Past Worthy Matron, and held other positions of leadership. She enjoyed the Eastern Star, its tenets and purpose, and the wonderful people that joined her in that journey. She was recently recognized at an OES meeting for attaining 50 years of membership. Margaret is survived by daughter, Sharon (Donald); son Dallas (Phylis); son Jan; grandchildren, Dustin, Hayley, Jeff, Shawn, and great-grandchildren Abigail, Hunter, and Everett. Her brothers Leroy, Joseph, Robert, Jack, James, Charles, and sister, Ann, predeceased her. She loved and enjoyed her family and was blessed by many friends who shared and gave value to her life. A funeral service will be held at St. Marks United Methodist Church in Easton on Tuesday, November 29, 2016, at 11 a.m. with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at the New Spring Hill Cemetery in Easton. Pallbearers will be Dustin Pope, Hayley Pope, Jeff Hutchison, Hunter Hutchison, James Foreman, and Milton Warren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 100 Peachblossom Rd., Easton, MD 21601 or OES Chapter 69, 408 Railroad Avenue, Centreville, MD 21617.

Margaret M. Pope

August 27, 1918 - November 21, 2016