Margaret Bagby

CAIRO, Ill. - Margaret Berbling Bagby, 75, died at 2:16 a.m. Oct. 14, 2003, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Born April 28, 1928, in Cairo, daughter of the late Carl Wolffe and Mary Magdeline Cordova Berbling, she lived in Cairo her entire life except during the time she spent dancing as a Rockette at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, N.Y. Having received a Ph.D from Dance Masters of America, she was well known throughout the tri-state area as a dance instructor and owner of Margaret Berbling Bagby School of Dance for 35 years, after which she owned Berbling Tire Company for 18 years until retiring in 1994.

Active in church and civic activities, she was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Cairo, where she currently served as regent of the Daughters of Isabella - St. Theresa Circle 331. She was a former trustee of VFW Post 2649 Ladies Auxiliary and member of Elks BPOE 651 Ladies Auxiliary. She was instrumental in Cairo's Magnolia Ball and had served as chairperson of the Riverboat Ball and Queen Coronation.

On Dec. 27, 1950, she married A. Dean Bagby who preceded her in death on May 5, 1997.

Survivors include: one son and daughter-in-law, Wolffe and Joey Bagby of East Prairie, Mo.; one daughter and son-in-law, Deana and William Pecord of Cairo; and four grandchildren and one granddaughter-in-law, Raelen Bagby of Spartanburg, S.C., Marc and Kara Bagby of Honolulu, Hawaii, Lucas Pecord of Cairo and Conn Q. Davis of East Prairie.

Visitation rites are scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Cairo, where rosary prayers will be recited at 7:30 p.m.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday with the Rev. Jerome Fortenberry, pastor, serving as celebrant.

Burial will be in Green Lawn Memorial Garden Cemetery at Villa Ridge.

Pallbearers will be: John Klein, Steve Klein, Larry Klein, Greg Klein, Mark Klein, Lucas Klein and John Eric Klein.

McMikle Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be sent to:

the Cairo Public Library 1609 Washington Ave. Cairo, IL 62914

and

Mass requests may be sent to:

St. Patrick Catholic Church Ninth and Washington streets Cairo, IL 62914

Paid obituary