Marguerite (Marge) Dorothy Gatlin, age 86, passed away Monday, October 16, 2018, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Jefferson City, MO. She was born November 24, 1931 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the daughter of Leonard and Eldina Shaw.
On November 6, 1954, she was united in marriage to William (Parky) James LaFayette. On August 7, 1987, she was united in marriage to Carl Freeman Gatlin.
Marge had an amazing work ethic beginning her journey before the age of 20 as a telephone operator in Maywood, IL. Shortly after her marriage to Parky, they founded and were co-owners of ‘Country Models’ located in Crystal Lake, IL while raising cattle, chickens, pigs and other livestock with Parky on the farm in Woodstock, IL.
After relocating to Gravois Mills, MO in the mid-70’s, Marge and Parky opened a restaurant and also started a small business building and servicing boat docks.
Shortly thereafter, she became an Administrative Assistant working for various advertisement agencies. She also was an Executive Assistant at ‘Sandoz Crop Protection’ in Des Plaines, IL. She rounded out a lifetime of hard work and dedication in her position with the State of Missouri, in Jefferson City where she worked well into her 70’s.
Marge always had a love for reading which began at a very early age and over the years she accumulated a large library of books. She was ahead of her time and a wiz at creating spreadsheets. Marge was always available to family members who needed her assistance and expertise.
Marge is survived by four children: Julie Ann Coyne and husband Kendall of St. Louis, MO, Jean Harris and husband Michael of Birmingham AL, Jennifer Bolton and husband John of Gravois Mills, MO and James (Jim) LaFayette and wife Andrea of Overland Park, KS; eleven grandchildren: Chad Hackler and wife Amanda of Overland Park, KS, Timothy James (TJ) and wife Stacy of Olathe, KS, Britney (Harris) Valas and husband John of Summerfield, NC, Cole Harris and wife Emily of Knoxville, TN, Heidi (Bolton) Shewmaker, and husband Jerry of Versailles, MO, Katie (Bolton) Schad and husband Travis of Barnett, MO, Aaron Bolton of Gravois Mills, MO, Kory LaFayette and fiancé Abby of Lawrence, KS, Mackenzie LaFayette of Dallas TX, Rick Vaughn and wife Shannon of Olathe, KS, Justin Vaughn of Shawnee, KS along with twenty super cute great grandchildren, ranging from 3 months to 11 years of age.
Marge was preceded in death by her parents and an aunt, Lydia Gross.
A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at Concordia Cemetery in Forrest Park, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions would be appreciated to West Lake Christian Church in Laurie, MO.
Cremation arrangements are under the direction and care of the Kidwell-Garber Funeral Home of Versailles, MO.
