Margaret Roberts, 82

Wednesday, February 9, 2005

Margaret Lillian Merchant Boone Smith Roberts, 82, died Feb. 4, 2005, just before midnight, due to complications from Alzheimer's Dementia.

The disease was "her greatest fear," her family said, noting that she had conquered cancer on two previous occasions.

Local funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 10, at the Mountain Home Third Ward Chapel on Airbase Road in Mountain Home. A viewing will be held prior to the service at 9 a.m.

There also will be a visitation on Thursday, Feb. 10, from 7-9 p.m. at Henefer LDS Church in Henefer, Utah, and a visitation one hour prior to the funeral service in Henefer at 11 a.m. on Friday, Febr. 11, at the Henefer LDS Chapel. Graveside services will follow at the Henefer Cemetery.

Margaret was born to David and Martha Flora "Parks" Merchant on Jan. 1, 1918, at their farm in Nilrem, Alberta, Canada.

She married John Vincent Boone in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on June 7, 1947. They were later divorced.

She married Ernan Young Smith at Manti, Utah on Dec. 27, 1957. They were later divorced. Ernan died in 1974.

She married Byron William Roberts in Ogden, Utah, in the LDS Temple, on Nov. 4, 1976. Byron died on Jan. 8, 1985.

Margaret lived a life full of challenges, but continued true to her goals of education, learning and focusing on family values, her family said. " She insisted on gaining an education and graduated from BYU in 1958 with the honor of Magna Cum Laude."

She worked for Harden's Pharmacy in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, as well as for The Hudson Bay Company in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

After graduating Magna Cum Laude in English and Education from BYU she taught art at Payson Junior High School for three years then taught high school English at Weber High School in Utah from 1963 to 1976.

She was involved with Lambda Iota Tau, Delta Kappa Gamma, The Utah Poetry Society (Summit Echoes), and had been a member of the Mothers of Military Mountain Home chapter during her time here in Idaho.

She was also an active member of the LDS Church. She had been happily anticipating the family's military move to Japan, and had been wanting to help with her family's current move to Arkansas.

Margaret is survived by: her daughter, Dawn (Smith) Soger, who has also been her primary caregiver for the past ten years, and her son-in-law, SSgt. Robert J. Soger, both of Mountain Home Air Force Base; her four grandchildren, eight step-grandchildren, a great-grand- daughter and six step-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her sister Mabel (Merchant) Grant, and her brothers, Arthur, Herbert, Kenneth and Allan Merchant.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association Research Fund or the American Cancer Society c/o Summers Funeral Homes, McMurtrey Chapel, 500 N. 18th East St., Mountain Home, ID 83647.