Margaret McCullough

The world’s greatest Coca-Cola connoisseur, Margaret Lee Mason McCullough, died peacefully early Monday morning, April 15th in her Irving home. Ms. McCullough was 81. Margaret loved everything about the Atlanta based cola drink. Ms. McCullough was known to consume large quantities of the sugary carbonated beverage daily. In 1982, with the introduction of Diet Coke, Margaret began to gradually transfer her preference from the full calorie Coke to the new diet beverage. Ms. McCullough seldom varied from her choice of beverage. When Coca-Cola began producing a caffeine free alternative, Margaret tried the new variety for a while but ultimately preferred, “a Diet Coke in the silver can.”

Not only did Ms. McCullough enjoy the carbonated beverage but loved collecting Coca-Cola paraphenalia as well. During her life time Margaret collected clocks, towels, silverware, glasses, tee-shirts, quilts and even a two and half foot metal thermometer disguised as a bottle of Coke. She remained loyal to her specific brand of cola, even though in 2007, her daughter Karen Winters of The Colony, became employed by Coke’s arch rival, Pepsi. Her greatest struggle came towards the end of her life when her physicians limited her cola intake to just two cans daily. It was a sad day indeed.

In January of this year, Ms. McCullough was placed in hospice care in her Irving home. She had been in steady decline for years because of Alzheimer’s. Her family knew that the time for her departure was near when Ms. McCullough no longer enjoyed her Diet Coke.

Ms. McCullough is survived by her husband of 59 years, Wayne McCullough (any diet orange beverage), daughters, Paula McCullough (Dr. Pepper), Karen Winters (Aquafina) and her husband, David Winters (Pepsi). Ms. McCullough had four grandchildren, Stefanie Brekne (no preference) and her husband Karlan (no preference) of Seattle WA, Brian Hubbs (Sprite), Julie Hubbs (Diet Coke) and Valerie Hubbs ( Barq’s root beer). In addition, Ms. McCullough was blessed with three great-grandson’s, Isaac, Sebastian and baby Carmello, all who are to young to really be enjoying such sugary beverages.

Visitation will be Monday at 11:00AM, April 22nd at Laurel Land Funeral Home with services following at 12 noon. Interment will be at Laurel Land Memorial Park, Dallas, Texas.