Margaret Ellen Wagoner, age 94, of Sweet Home, went to be with the Lord on Friday, December 28th. Margaret was the daughter of George E. and Evelyn R. (McGuire) Smith. She was born in Los Angeles, California on April 2nd 1913.

Margaret grew up in Los Angeles, graduating from Belmont High School and later attending UCLA. She married Earl J. V. Howser in 1935 and had one son, Mel. Margaret and Earl later divorced, and Margaret married Emmett J. Wagoner in 1944. Emmett later adopted Mel.

The family moved to Big Creek, high in the Sierra Nevada’s of Fresno County, California, where they lived until the early 70’s when they retired to Southern California. In 1975 they moved to Brownsville, Oregon. Her husband passed away in 1976 and Margaret moved to Turner, Oregon where she lived and worked in a retirement home. In 1996 she returned to Sweet Home to be near family.

Margaret is survived by her son, Mel, and his wife, Peggy, of Brownsville; grandchildren, Cindy Crowder of Sisters, Kathy Nelson of Ontario, California, Sandi Hegge of Sweet Home, Kim Albert of Sweet Home, Jennifer McKinney of Irmo, South Carolina, and Steven Wagoner of Beggs, Oklahoma; along with 18 great grandchildren and four great great grandsons.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, and her husband, Emmett.

At her request, there will be a memorial service for family only. Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements.