Margaret Louise Meredith, 91, of Independence, Missouri, died
Monday, August 12, 2002, at the Groves, Rosewood Health Center.
Funeral services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Friday, August 16, 2002,
at Speaks Midtown Chapel. Visitation will be held at the Chapel,
Thursday evening, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Graveside services will be
2:30 p.m. Friday, in Humansville Cemetery, Humansville, Missouri.
Memorial contributions may be made to NorthCare Hospice,
2900 Clay Edwards Drive, North Kansas City, Missouri 64116.

Miss Meredith was born October 28, 1910 in Humansville, Missouri.
She was the daughter of S. Lucian and Margaret Weaver Meredith.
She received a bachelor's degree in education and business from
Southwest Missouri State University and a master's degree from the
University of Missouri in speech and drama. She also did post
graduate work at Northwestern, the University of Denver,
University of Minnesota and University of Arizona.

Miss Meredith started her first teaching career in Roscoe, Missouri
where she taught business subjects and coached girl's basketball
and then in her home town of Humansville. She also held teaching
positions in Summersville and West Plains. In 1945 she was hired
by the Independence School District for a position at William
Chrisman High School where she was to teach speech and coach
debate. She retired in 1976 after thirty one years at William
Chrisman. In recognition of her outstanding career, in 1999, the
school's little theater was named the Margaret Meredith Little Theater.

Miss Meredith was a nationally recognized authority in high school
forensics. Her students went to the National tournament twenty eight
times out of thirty one yearly tournaments. They won first place twice
and as a result she was named to the National Forensic Hall of Fame.

After she retired from the Independence School District she taught at
the Truman Campus of the University of Missouri for eight years. She
also worked part time at Scandinavia Place on the Independence
Square and volunteered at the Bingham Waggoner Estate. Miss
Meredith remained active in retirement holding membership in
University Women, University Book Club, Retired Teacher's
Association, Community Association for the Arts, Jackson County
Historical Society, Mary Paxton Study Club and the Saturday Club.
An avid bridge player she belonged to several bridge clubs.

Miss Meredith was a member of the First United Methodist Church
of Independence and the Fellowship Sunday School Class. She was
a world traveler. She had visited in all of the European countries,
Mexico and Canada as well as all fifty of the United States.

Miss Meredith remained in her home on Delaware Street in
Independence until the summer of 2001 when she moved to
the Groves. She was proud of the fact that Harry Truman
referred to her as the second Margaret on Delaware.

She is survived by several extended family members including
Wayne Bear of Independence, as well as a host of friends and
former students. She greatly influenced the lives of many and
will continue to be remembered.