Margaret Mathews Boyce

DONNA - Margaret Blanche (Mathews) Boyce went to be with our Lord on Sunday March 22, 2015 at the young age of 78 in her home in Donna, Texas. She was surrounded by her loved ones at the time of her passing.

Margaret was born March 17, 1937 in McAllen, Texas to Otis and Willie Lee (Haddock) Mathews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 47 years, Miles Wesley Boyce of Donna, Texas, brother Woods Mathews and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. She is survived by her daughters, Susan Fuller, Melinda Hernandez, Martha Lord (and husband Phillip) and Elizabeth Boyce. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, Janessa, Michael, Matthew and Lillian Fuller; Victoria Hernandez and James, Rachel and Juliette Lord; great granddaughter Zoey Fuller; two brothers, W. Grant Mathews and John Mathews (and wife Karen), and numerous nieces and nephews.

Margaret graduated from Edinburg High School in 1955 where she was a member of the Edinburg Bobcat Band, where she enjoyed playing the clarinet and being a Majorette and twirler. During her Bobcat Years, she was elected as the Class Secretary, Future Teachers of America Officer, National Honor Society Officer, Student Council Officer, Auto Mechanics Sweetheart, Most Beautiful and (much to her daughters’ daily reminders and corrections), Most Poised. Following High School, she attended Texas State College for Women in Denton where she served on the Court as a Princess in the Redbud Festival, and graduated in 1959 from the University of Texas in Austin with a Bachelor of Arts in Education. After her girls were older, she obtained her Masters of Library Science from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.

Margaret began her career in education as a teacher, and after many years in the classroom, went on to bless the lives of many children as a librarian. She started teaching in McAllen where she met the love of her life, Miles. The two were married a year later. They made their home in Donna and raised four devoted and loving daughters. Over her thirty-plus-year career, she positively impacted the lives of children across the Mid-Valley school districts including Donna, La Feria and Pharr (PSJA).

Margaret spent her life with the people she loved, opening her home to family and friends to share a good laugh, enjoy a great meal, and even a spontaneous game night. While raising her family, she opened also her home to a number of foreign exchange students, two of which are still considered part of the family to this day, Robert Dykstra from the Netherlands and Jens Roever from Germany. Margaret treasured all the friends that she met over the years, and maintained a special bond with her closest high school friends, the self-titled “Golden Girls". In her later years, Margaret and the Golden Girls shared cherished annual excursions.

Margaret’s greatest love was praising and worshiping her Lord. She attended and raised her family at the First United Methodist Church in Donna. She was a spiritual warrior who loved spreading the joy of the Lord with her family, students and friends. She truly made a difference in the lives she touched. Margaret will forever be loved by her family and friends and will be greatly missed.

We look forward to the day when we meet again, when our Lord comes riding on the clouds, shining like the Sun.

Mother,
Thank you for,
-Childhoods filled with love and laughter
-Counseling that steadied our storms, and
-Company that lifted our spirits.
Susan Louise, Melinda Lee, Martha Anne and Elizabeth Margaret

Grandma,
You Rock'd it! Kiss Grandpa for us.
Janessa, Michael, Matthew, James, Rachel, Lillian, Victoria, Juliette & ZOEY

Visitation will be on Friday, March 27, 2015 from 5pm to 7:30pm at McCaleb Funeral Home in Weslaco, TX. Funeral service will be held at First United Methodist Church in Donna, TX at 10am on Saturday, March 28, 2015 with Interment to follow at Donna City Cemetery in Donna, TX.