Submitted by Cheney Witt Funeral Home
Margaret Ann McDermed, age 81, a resident of rural Fort Scott, Kan., passed away early Thursday, June 29, 2017, at the Mercy Hospital Emergency Room in Fort Scott.
She was born March 5, 1936, in Girard, Kan., the daughter of Merritt Colegrove and Anabel Gooding Colegrove. Margaret graduated from the Girard High School. She married Paul McDermed on June 11, 1959, at Commerce City, Colo. Margaret helped her husband with the family dairy farm for several years. She was also worked for a time for Key Industries. Margaret was a member of the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene. She enjoyed music and frequently provided music for Masonic organizations including Rainbow Girl, Order of the Eastern Star, Order of the Amaranth and White Shrine. She was a member of the Olive Chapter #13 Order of the Eastern Star and a member of the Pioneer Court #2 Order of the Amaranth. She also volunteered her time with the Beacon. She was a devoted wife and mother who lovingly cared for her husband, Paul, for many years after his illness.
Survivors include three sons, Mark LaForte and wife, Joan, of St. Paul, Kan., Kevin McDermed, of Uniontown, Kan., and Todd McDermed and wife, Kim, of Fort Scott; nine grandchildren, Wade LaForte and wife, Alex; Seth LaForte and wife, Casey; Josh McDermed, Shyleen McDermed, Kenny McDermed, Jordan McDermed and wife, Megan; Trenton McDermed, Tyler McDermed, and Megan McDermed; and eight great-grandchildren. Her husband, Paul, preceded her in death on March 14, 2013. She was also preceded in death by three brothers, Marvin, Francis and Merlin Colegrove, and a sister, Marilyn Thompson.
Pastor Jeff Dillow conducted funeral services at 10 a.m. Monday, July 3, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Girard Cemetery. The family received friends on Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Cheney Witt Chapel with Eastern Star services being held at 4:30 p.m. Memorials are suggested to Care to Share and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.