Margaret Gertrude Hoage

In 1995 my mom was feeling unhappy and said to my father, " I am going to mail three sheets of paper to each of my children so they can make a list of all of the things I as a mother have done wrong." My father called each of us and told us of this, and I mailed a card and a poem the next day.

I found it in her dresser drawer a day after she had passed.

The card reads as follows:

Mom,

I never really realized just how much you taught me about love.......

Until I became a mother myself.

My thoughts were summed up on two sheets, I love you mom.

"Thank's from the heart"

I decided to write a little poem,

to give you some of me,

And I hope when you read it,

you'll know it is as true as it can be,

I wanted to say " Thank you, mom,"

for always loving me,

and guiding me through the rough times,

when I was too blind to see,

And even when I messed things up,

you never gave up on me,

your strength and love has helped me become,

the person I always wanted to be,

Thanks for always caring,

even when I didn't,

and thanks for saying " You can do it!"

when I was sure I couldn't,

Why you ever put up with me, well,

I will never guess,

but even when I hurt you,

you never loved me any less,

I want to let you know that I am glad, glad you are my mother,

and even if I had a choice,

I would not choose another,

And mom, I hope you always know,

you are always in my heart,

and always means forever,

if we are near or far apart,

And I hope you will remember,

when the years have come and gone,

what I really mean is,

I really love YOU mom.

Kathy, 1995

Obituary.

Margaret Gertrude Gordon (Hoage) was born in Huntsville, Alabama April 2, 1928. She passed on May 30, 2013 very unexpectedly due to complications from a prior illness. She is survived by 2 daughters, one son, 9 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren as follows:

Ginger Quinlan, daughter –

Mellisa and James Cummings (grandchildren)

Katherine Rose-Hoage, daughter-

Shauntel and Brandon Fortune (granddaughter)

Jayden (great grandson)

Joseph and Katie Rose (grandson)

Ayla and Julyon (great grandchildren)

Laura Rose (granddaughter)

David and Cheryl Hoage, son-

Dana and Amy Hoage (grandson)

Billy, Jimmy, David Jr. (grandsons)

Elizabeth Lind (granddaughter)

Annabelle (great granddaughter)

Rebecca Hoage (granddaughter)

Corbin (great grandson)

I tried to write this in a professional way and that list was as far as I got. This is the place I’m able to share some things with all of you about my mom and her life. It’s not a report, it’s personal. So I’m going to write it that way. :)

Mom lived with her parents and little brother, Frank, in Alabama till 1931. She and her family then moved to Colorado where she grew up. She told stories about what it was like living during The Great Depression, and how it was very hard sometimes. She recalled very clearly putting newspapers in her shoes so they would be wearable for a bit longer, and the day her mother sent her to the store with 4 cents to buy flour but she returned home without it as the price had gone up to a nickel. Her mother broke down in tears because that’s all the money they had. My mom felt so sad she went out and searched the neighborhood to find a penny. However, for the most part, she was very happy. When she was in school, she was a member of an Accordion Band, and years later she played it for us… when we could talk her into it! She would act all embarrassed at first, but eventually would play us a few songs .She graduated from North High School, attended collage at Denver University and also Barnes Business Collage.

She married Joseph Hoage in 1948. That included a move to Richland, Washington. While in Richland, she worked for General Electric for 8 years as an executive secretary, was a student of Aikido and Ju Jitsu obtaining 3rd level status in self-defense at the Richland Do Jo, and devoted many hours to the Iris Society in support of my father’s passion for growing, hybridizing and showing of iris. And while in Washington, my folks began they’re family and adopted 4 children. Ginger, Kathy, David and Marvin.

In 1968 they came home to Colorado and bought a house in Lakewood. And aside from a short stay in Willows California, mom literally lived there for the rest of her life. She raised 4 children, often managing home, children, work and all responsibility alone because my father traveled so much. She worked inside the home 24 – 7 and also outside the home for 25 plus years. Gerry Division Colorado Outdoor Sports, Van Schaack & CO, Johns Manville Corp, Raintree Inns of America and finally for Colorado School of Mines in the Geophysics Department. She was a member of the Jefferson Hills Chapter of sweet Adeline’s for many years, participating in many shows and competitions. She also was in a dance group consisting of women she graduated from High School with. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Lakewood and later in life a member of Saint John’s Lutheran Church in Denver. She took Belly dancing lessons when she reached the age of fifty and traveled to Canada with friends at age 60 and went white water rafting.

She sang in the choir of almost every church she attended and planted the seeds of love of music in all of her children. I remember coming home from school to find her singing in the kitchen or laundry room, often times remaining quiet so as to not interrupt the beautiful sound of her voice. She loved music of all kinds, and I have no doubt she is singing now, just on the other side of our hearing.

In 2002 my father passed away and over the next two years she kept busy, traveling to Alaska, and spending a few holidays in Colorado Springs with my family. One Thanksgiving she joined in the dancing to rock and roll for a bit before going home as my kids and some of their friends began rocking out after eating too much food.

She met Emil Schmutzler in 2004 and grew to love him and they were engaged on Valentine’s Day of that year. They exchanged rings and gave their hearts to each other before God, the only witness they needed, and spent 9 years taking care of each other through some pretty hard times. Mom found out she had breast cancer 3 weeks after they stood before God and although she offered to let Emil out of the relationship because of it, he said no, they would face it together one day at a time. And they did just that. Mom beat the cancer. She’s the only one I ever knew who would demand the devil wipe his feet before coming in. And he would do it. They did some traveling and very much enjoyed they’re time at home alone just being together.

My mom died in his arms, in her own room, surrounded by family who loved her in the house she had called home for 45+ years.

Mom was a very strong woman, and she touched the life of everyone she knew in one way or another. People described her as outgoing, friendly, pleasant, giving, thoughtful, helpful and independent. And she was all of those things and more. But I found as I got older, she never seemed to change in my eyes and my mind. She was always My Mom. We were alike in some way’s and completely different people in other ways. She and I had become more than just a mother and daughter over the last years of her life. We had become close friends. And I’ll miss her strength and guidance and love every day.