Margaret Gulley Williams Thorngren,92, of Lancaster and Lexington KY, passed away on Thursday, December 13, 2012 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Lexington after a brief illness. Margaret was born November 1, 1920 to Jesse W. and Stella H. Gulley in Lancaster KY, and grew up on the family's farm at Camp Dick Robinson in an active family with three brothers, a sister, and an older step-brother.
Early experience in 4-H club cultivated a guiding interest in education and Home Economics, leading Margaret to earn a B.S. in Home Economics at the University of Kentucky and a M.S. in Extension Education at the University of Wisconsin in 1958. She showed characteristic fearlessness and determination by establishing a career as a Home Demonstration Agent in Central Kentucky and Tennessee and as an Associate Professor of 4-H at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Virginia at a time when relatively few women lived independently. Margaret married the late Leonard B. Williams in 1964. Together they lived abroad, working for the United States of International Development as agricultural extension agents.
Between 1964-1972 Margaret and Len were stationed in Thailand, Sudan, and Ghana and traveled extensively to many other countries where Margaret worked extensively with individuals and groups, teaching everything from conversational English and food preservation, to consulting with local businesses on marketing traditional woven fabrics and improving health conditions in local communities. While in Ghana, Margaret was in charge of a private dinner for the First Lady of the United States., Mrs. Patricia Nixon, and the Prime Minister of Ghana at the Ambassadors residence. Returning to Kentucky in 1972, Margaret was instrumental in managing the family farm at Camp Dick Robinson, continued encouraging leadership and success in young people through 4-H and promoted community space dedicated to farmers and homemakers which later became the Extension building in Lancaster. She raised award-winning irises, was President of the Bluegrass Iris Society, and was a National Iris Show judge. Margaret was a long standing member of the Lancaster Christian Church, and was an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Danville for nineteen years, serving as a member of the Vestry, Junior Warden, and a Board of Trustee Member for Cardinal Meadow. Later in life and after a brief marriage to Dale Thorngren, a long -time friend, Margaret established a dynamic library which bears her name at the Lafayette in Lexington KY. Her efforts in the library bring daily enjoyment to the residents and continue the links of education and opportunity which were a hallmark in Margaret's life. A devoted sister, aunt, and grandmother
Margaret is survived by her sister Mary Gulley Sanders, and her brother Dr. James G. Gulley, both of Lancaster; her stepson Dr. Leonard B. Williams III, and his wife Mary Williams of Freeport NJ,; her grandsons Christopher Williams of FL and Ian Williams of Pennsylvania; her nieces and nephews David Gulley, Teal Reilly, Charles Gulley, Peggy Sharp, John Gulley, Tom Gulley, Dr. Mary Gulley, James M. Gulley. Margaret influenced countless lives in her work, at home, and abroad. She encouraged life long learning and leadership in people of all ages, took notice of and empowered others talents and creativity, and represented a fearless and adventurous approach to life.
It is to this spirit that a celebration of life will be planned for family and friends at a time when Margaret's beloved iris are in bloom at her home place.
Obituary obtained from the Spurlin Funeral Home, Lancaster, Kentucky.
Early experience in 4-H club cultivated a guiding interest in education and Home Economics, leading Margaret to earn a B.S. in Home Economics at the University of Kentucky and a M.S. in Extension Education at the University of Wisconsin in 1958. She showed characteristic fearlessness and determination by establishing a career as a Home Demonstration Agent in Central Kentucky and Tennessee and as an Associate Professor of 4-H at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Virginia at a time when relatively few women lived independently. Margaret married the late Leonard B. Williams in 1964. Together they lived abroad, working for the United States of International Development as agricultural extension agents.
Between 1964-1972 Margaret and Len were stationed in Thailand, Sudan, and Ghana and traveled extensively to many other countries where Margaret worked extensively with individuals and groups, teaching everything from conversational English and food preservation, to consulting with local businesses on marketing traditional woven fabrics and improving health conditions in local communities. While in Ghana, Margaret was in charge of a private dinner for the First Lady of the United States., Mrs. Patricia Nixon, and the Prime Minister of Ghana at the Ambassadors residence. Returning to Kentucky in 1972, Margaret was instrumental in managing the family farm at Camp Dick Robinson, continued encouraging leadership and success in young people through 4-H and promoted community space dedicated to farmers and homemakers which later became the Extension building in Lancaster. She raised award-winning irises, was President of the Bluegrass Iris Society, and was a National Iris Show judge. Margaret was a long standing member of the Lancaster Christian Church, and was an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Danville for nineteen years, serving as a member of the Vestry, Junior Warden, and a Board of Trustee Member for Cardinal Meadow. Later in life and after a brief marriage to Dale Thorngren, a long -time friend, Margaret established a dynamic library which bears her name at the Lafayette in Lexington KY. Her efforts in the library bring daily enjoyment to the residents and continue the links of education and opportunity which were a hallmark in Margaret's life. A devoted sister, aunt, and grandmother
Margaret is survived by her sister Mary Gulley Sanders, and her brother Dr. James G. Gulley, both of Lancaster; her stepson Dr. Leonard B. Williams III, and his wife Mary Williams of Freeport NJ,; her grandsons Christopher Williams of FL and Ian Williams of Pennsylvania; her nieces and nephews David Gulley, Teal Reilly, Charles Gulley, Peggy Sharp, John Gulley, Tom Gulley, Dr. Mary Gulley, James M. Gulley. Margaret influenced countless lives in her work, at home, and abroad. She encouraged life long learning and leadership in people of all ages, took notice of and empowered others talents and creativity, and represented a fearless and adventurous approach to life.
It is to this spirit that a celebration of life will be planned for family and friends at a time when Margaret's beloved iris are in bloom at her home place.
Obituary obtained from the Spurlin Funeral Home, Lancaster, Kentucky.
Margaret Gulley Williams Thorngren,92, of Lancaster and Lexington KY, passed away on Thursday, December 13, 2012 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Lexington after a brief illness. Margaret was born November 1, 1920 to Jesse W. and Stella H. Gulley in Lancaster KY, and grew up on the family's farm at Camp Dick Robinson in an active family with three brothers, a sister, and an older step-brother.
Early experience in 4-H club cultivated a guiding interest in education and Home Economics, leading Margaret to earn a B.S. in Home Economics at the University of Kentucky and a M.S. in Extension Education at the University of Wisconsin in 1958. She showed characteristic fearlessness and determination by establishing a career as a Home Demonstration Agent in Central Kentucky and Tennessee and as an Associate Professor of 4-H at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Virginia at a time when relatively few women lived independently. Margaret married the late Leonard B. Williams in 1964. Together they lived abroad, working for the United States of International Development as agricultural extension agents.
Between 1964-1972 Margaret and Len were stationed in Thailand, Sudan, and Ghana and traveled extensively to many other countries where Margaret worked extensively with individuals and groups, teaching everything from conversational English and food preservation, to consulting with local businesses on marketing traditional woven fabrics and improving health conditions in local communities. While in Ghana, Margaret was in charge of a private dinner for the First Lady of the United States., Mrs. Patricia Nixon, and the Prime Minister of Ghana at the Ambassadors residence. Returning to Kentucky in 1972, Margaret was instrumental in managing the family farm at Camp Dick Robinson, continued encouraging leadership and success in young people through 4-H and promoted community space dedicated to farmers and homemakers which later became the Extension building in Lancaster. She raised award-winning irises, was President of the Bluegrass Iris Society, and was a National Iris Show judge. Margaret was a long standing member of the Lancaster Christian Church, and was an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Danville for nineteen years, serving as a member of the Vestry, Junior Warden, and a Board of Trustee Member for Cardinal Meadow. Later in life and after a brief marriage to Dale Thorngren, a long -time friend, Margaret established a dynamic library which bears her name at the Lafayette in Lexington KY. Her efforts in the library bring daily enjoyment to the residents and continue the links of education and opportunity which were a hallmark in Margaret's life. A devoted sister, aunt, and grandmother
Margaret is survived by her sister Mary Gulley Sanders, and her brother Dr. James G. Gulley, both of Lancaster; her stepson Dr. Leonard B. Williams III, and his wife Mary Williams of Freeport NJ,; her grandsons Christopher Williams of FL and Ian Williams of Pennsylvania; her nieces and nephews David Gulley, Teal Reilly, Charles Gulley, Peggy Sharp, John Gulley, Tom Gulley, Dr. Mary Gulley, James M. Gulley. Margaret influenced countless lives in her work, at home, and abroad. She encouraged life long learning and leadership in people of all ages, took notice of and empowered others talents and creativity, and represented a fearless and adventurous approach to life.
It is to this spirit that a celebration of life will be planned for family and friends at a time when Margaret's beloved iris are in bloom at her home place.
Obituary obtained from the Spurlin Funeral Home, Lancaster, Kentucky.
Early experience in 4-H club cultivated a guiding interest in education and Home Economics, leading Margaret to earn a B.S. in Home Economics at the University of Kentucky and a M.S. in Extension Education at the University of Wisconsin in 1958. She showed characteristic fearlessness and determination by establishing a career as a Home Demonstration Agent in Central Kentucky and Tennessee and as an Associate Professor of 4-H at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Virginia at a time when relatively few women lived independently. Margaret married the late Leonard B. Williams in 1964. Together they lived abroad, working for the United States of International Development as agricultural extension agents.
Between 1964-1972 Margaret and Len were stationed in Thailand, Sudan, and Ghana and traveled extensively to many other countries where Margaret worked extensively with individuals and groups, teaching everything from conversational English and food preservation, to consulting with local businesses on marketing traditional woven fabrics and improving health conditions in local communities. While in Ghana, Margaret was in charge of a private dinner for the First Lady of the United States., Mrs. Patricia Nixon, and the Prime Minister of Ghana at the Ambassadors residence. Returning to Kentucky in 1972, Margaret was instrumental in managing the family farm at Camp Dick Robinson, continued encouraging leadership and success in young people through 4-H and promoted community space dedicated to farmers and homemakers which later became the Extension building in Lancaster. She raised award-winning irises, was President of the Bluegrass Iris Society, and was a National Iris Show judge. Margaret was a long standing member of the Lancaster Christian Church, and was an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Danville for nineteen years, serving as a member of the Vestry, Junior Warden, and a Board of Trustee Member for Cardinal Meadow. Later in life and after a brief marriage to Dale Thorngren, a long -time friend, Margaret established a dynamic library which bears her name at the Lafayette in Lexington KY. Her efforts in the library bring daily enjoyment to the residents and continue the links of education and opportunity which were a hallmark in Margaret's life. A devoted sister, aunt, and grandmother
Margaret is survived by her sister Mary Gulley Sanders, and her brother Dr. James G. Gulley, both of Lancaster; her stepson Dr. Leonard B. Williams III, and his wife Mary Williams of Freeport NJ,; her grandsons Christopher Williams of FL and Ian Williams of Pennsylvania; her nieces and nephews David Gulley, Teal Reilly, Charles Gulley, Peggy Sharp, John Gulley, Tom Gulley, Dr. Mary Gulley, James M. Gulley. Margaret influenced countless lives in her work, at home, and abroad. She encouraged life long learning and leadership in people of all ages, took notice of and empowered others talents and creativity, and represented a fearless and adventurous approach to life.
It is to this spirit that a celebration of life will be planned for family and friends at a time when Margaret's beloved iris are in bloom at her home place.
Obituary obtained from the Spurlin Funeral Home, Lancaster, Kentucky.
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