Margaret Ruth Burton

She was preceded in death by her husband Howard Maurice Burton, her parents Minnie Lee Lockeby and William Homer Johnston, her sister Martha, her brother William Charles, and her brother Van who died in infancy.

She is survived by one son Kevin P. Burton of San Antonio, Texas, as well as several nieces and nephews and their families.

She was born Margaret Ruth on January 21, 1928, in Nashville, AR as the youngest of four children. Her father, whom she affectionately referred to as "Daddy Bill", ran a sawmill on the family farm. The family survived the Great Depression and she had fond memories of her life growing up on the farm.

Margaret set out in the world shortly after high school. She had a short marriage to Edward Bates and being blessed with a beautiful voice she sang with country and western bands for a while. She joined the U.S. Civil Service in 1953 and lived in a few different places, including Hawaii, before settling in San Antonio. She married Howard, who was in the Air Force, in 1962 and they had one son Kevin in 1968. After Howard's untimely passing at the age of 43 she retired two years later from Kelly A.F.B. after 30 years with the Civil Service to be a full-time mother to her son Kevin. She performed accounting work for the Civil Service and one of the accounts she was most proud of was processing the expenses for the President's plane, Air Force One. Margaret attended Draughn's Business School which enabled her to be employed with the Civil Service. She earned her Associate's degree later in life while working full-time, a fact for which she was very proud. At Kelly A.F.B. she passionately pursued worker's rights through active involvement in the local A.F.G.E. union and served as a union steward at one point.

Margaret loved music and singing. When she was singing with the country and western bands one of her fondest recollections was being introduced once as "Lil' Miss Margie Bater", when actually her name was Bates at the time. Margaret's favorite song was "The Tennessee Waltz", for which she would get a tear in her eye every time she heard it, especially when her nephew Danny would play it for her on the piano.

After she retired Margaret enjoyed the simple things in life like luncheons with her friends, baked sweet potatoes and greens and other southern delicacies, bluebonnets, naps, her yard and plants, eating at Luby's and Jim's and Tom's Ribs, collecting unique and beautiful bottles and ceramic violin players, crossword puzzles, managing a small rental property she owned, watching television including news programs, The Young and the Restless, and the Grand 'Ol Opry, having her hair and nails done at the beauty college, her pets from Sparky her dog as a youth to Tiger and Trixie to her cat Simba later in life, drives in the country, and most of all spending time with her son Kevin to whom she was totally devoted. Her favorite spot locally was feeding the ducks along the Guadalupe River in Boerne. She and her son enjoyed this spot one last time on a beautiful day last fall before the onset of the health conditions that ultimately claimed her life.

Up until the end her son Kevin remained as her proudest achievement in life. Having him late in life she was unsure if she would ever have a child. Being widowed and with him as the only child, she invested all of herself in her son. There was no battle too fierce to fight, no sacrifice too great, no pain or hardship too intense to bear, for her son.

Her son wishes to express his most heartfelt gratitude to those who offered friendship and assistance to Margaret in her last years. This includes Lupe Zarate who not only kept her yards beautiful, but helped out wherever she needed. John Melancon, Melba Zoellner, and Gus Guzman who kept the inside and outside of her house beautiful and safe and appreciated her somewhat cantankerous, yet gentle and loving way, and were there to put a smile on her face when she was alive and as she passed away. To the others like Alfred Palomares, Jake Yetterberg, Dolores and Bobby Casas, Meals on Wheels, the waitstaff at Jim's and Luby's, the students at Vogue College of Cosmetology , the Community Initiatives Elderly Assistance Program, and to all the others. And especially to Grace Hernandez for epitomizing her name in every sense of the word in being there for Kevin and his mom.

To the dedicated staffs at Christus Santa Rosa Medical Center, including Jennifer Adams and Sister Mary Muldowney, Life Care Hospital, Mariner Health of San Antonio, Manor Care Briaridge, and Alamo Heights Health & Rehabilitation Center. Especially to the many doctors too numerous to mention. A special debt of gratitude is owed to Dr. Timothy Hernandez for not only being Margaret's doctor in the last year, but her son's friend as well, which was both a blessing and a challenge.

Mom, you will always be my best friend. I will think of you often and love you forever. I will sorely miss your great sense of humor, your emotional nature, your willingness to stick up for yourself, your generosity, your feistiness, your love of animals, your strength, your devotion to me, your independence, your enjoyment of the simple things in life, your business sense, your love of music, and your optimism. If I am lucky enough to possess just a fraction of your character and personality I will be a happy and successful person. The last week was grueling beyond compare, but I would not trade my memories with you and I will forever be grateful for this time. I am so relieved that your suffering is over and that you will be with your beloved family and friends.

As hard as it is to imagine life without you I will look forward to being with you again someday.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Christus Santa Rosa.