Margaret Ann (Coker) Stone

   Margaret Stone left her earthly home to enter her Heavenly Home with the Jesus she loves on Saturday, December 8, 2018. A celebration of the life of Margaret Stone will be held at First Baptist Church, Longview at 2:00 p.m. Friday, December 14, 2018.
   Margaret Ann Coker Stone was called Sugie by Tom, Momma or Mariann by family and Mac by everyone else. She was born in Mt. Pleasant, Texas on October 26, 1930, to Coy and Letha Coker. She spent her childhood in Mt. Pleasant, graduating from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1949. Mac’s mother died when she was 13 and she became substitute mother to her brother, Charles Coker and 3 year old sister Mary Elizabeth Coker Thompson. She and Tom married in Mt. Pleasant at the church parsonage on August 7, 1950. There were 3 children born to these parents – sons Tom III, Charles Andrew, who only lived 4 days and daughter, Karoletha. Tom, Mac and infant son, Tom III, moved to Longview from Waco in February 1952. Mac and Tom decided when Tom III was born that she would not work outside the home but be a full time wife and mother. She devoted herself to being just that.
   Mac’s two great joys were her family and her Lord whom she served through First Baptist Church. One of the ways she served both was through her music. The children can remember when they were 3 or 4, her sitting them in her lap in front of the piano and placing their finger on the keys and saying this is middle C. Thus, began their music education. Music is still a vital part of their lives. Mac served as director of the Kindergarten Choir at First Baptist for 25 years. She was a member of the Sanctuary Choir for 50 years until she couldn’t climb the steps to the choir loft. She was honored to often sing solos in her sweet, lovely alto voice.
   Mac and Tom worked with youth at church for 25 years and then began working with couples. Some of these couples were youth they had worked with when they were teens. Mac particularly enjoyed hosting church groups in her home. Hundreds of young people enjoyed after church pizza parties and Thanksgiving breakfasts in their home. Hundreds of young couples enjoyed Diaper Showers in Tom and Mac’s home. One former pastor referred to 33 Brownwood as an unauthorized part of First Baptist Campus.
   Mac was usually Room Mother. She served as president of the PTA at both Pinewood Park and South Ward Elementary School. She was also president of the Foster Junior High Choir parent’s organization called the Mamas and the Papas. She was the totally devoted mother.
   Mac was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, her son Charles, and many that she loved. She leaves behind her husband Tom, children Tom and Karoletha, granddaughters Larke and Chelsea, daughter in love, Karen Stone, grandson in love, Zachary Turnipseed, sister Elizabeth Thompson and her children and grandchildren and many, many that love Mac.
   Well done, Sugie, Mom, Mariann, Mac, child of the Living God, well done indeed!
   Much thanks and love to Emma Lovely, Rosdon Williams, Tina Green and Texas Home Health Hospice.
   Memorial gifts in Mac’s name may be given to First Baptist Church – Music Ministry, 209 E South St., Longview, Texas 75601 or Buckner, 700 North Pearl Street, Suite 1200, Dallas, Texas 75201.