1926
Margaret
2011
Margaret Ingling "Peg" Godfrey
October 8, 1926 — May 29, 2011
Margaret Ingling Godfrey (Peg), 84, passed away early Sunday morning from complications of pneumonia. She was born on October 8, 1926 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, the third daughter of Donald T. and Dorothy Bennett Hill Ingling. Just before her senior year in high school, Margaret moved with her family to Wichita where she met her future husband, Bob. They were married on June 24, 1951 and remained so until Bob’s death in 2003.
A graduate of Beaver College outside Philadelphia (now Arcadia University), Margaret was a talented artist who began a professional career in advertising and design while Bob attended medical school. She dabbled in theater and painted in her free time. In 1957, Bob and Margaret’s first child was born with three more children in the next 5 years. As her family grew, Margaret transferred her love of art and theater into her role as wife and mother. Those who love her remember her extravagantly themed birthday parties, the complex haunted houses culminating with Margaret as the wicked witch, and the elegant costumes she designed and sewed as her children began trying theater. Margaret made sure that each of her children experienced art in numerous ways. She constantly shared the beauty she saw all around her with her children and created an appreciation that has passed through the generations – her daughter and granddaughter make their living as artists, two of her daughters and her son worked in the theater, and all four have a love and aptitude for the arts that has been passed down to every grandchild – a wonderful legacy indeed.
As her children left home, Margaret began once again to pursue her earlier interests. She became involved in community theater and performed with the Barn Players, Theater in the Park and other local theaters for years. She appeared in commercials and feature films. She also worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that community theater – particularly the Barn Players – continued to flourish. Margaret’s commitment to the Barn Players was so complete that the organization named their new stage “The Margaret I. Godfrey Theater” in her honor.
Around the same time that she rediscovered her talent for theater, Margaret once again began to paint with regularity. A frequent contributor to local galleries, coffee shops, and restaurants, Margaret’s work received acclaim through several awards. She painted and sold landscapes, abstracts, plein-air, and several series of stylized still life paintings. All of Margaret’s work conveyed strong emotion and brought a piece of herself; she continued to create beautiful works of feeling almost to her death.
Margaret’s other passion was her gardens. As the family moved from Kansas City to Boston to Denver to Prairie Village to Overland Park, Margaret took barren plots of land and created suburban sanctuaries. In her later years, she found great joy just sitting in the shade of her garden and watching the birds. Margaret loved to watch things grow – her art, her gardens, her children, her grandchildren. She was a wonderful mother, a gifted artist, a gracious friend, and an extraordinary human being.
Margaret leaves behind her son, Tim, and his wife, Janie, of Overland Park; her daughters, Katherine Delmond and Gwendolyn (Wendy) Godfrey also of Overland Park; and her daughter, Melissa (Lisa) Cilley, who lives in Portland, Maine with her husband, Rodger, and their children. She also leaves behind 4 grandsons (Austin Delmond, Scott Fagan, Christian Cilley and Jack Fagan), 4 granddaughters (Laura Berglund, Olivia Delmond, Elaine Cilley and Meredith Cilley), countless friends, neighbors, her fellow artists and thespians, and her gardens. She will be deeply missed by all.
A visitation will be held at D.W. Newcomers Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park on Friday, June 3 from 1:00 to 2:00 with services beginning at 2:00. Interment will be in Johnson County Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Margaret I. Godfrey Memorial Garden Fund to create a lasting piece of beauty in her name. Fond memories and condolences for the family may be left at www.johnsoncountychapel.com
Arrangements: D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Johnson County Chapel, 913-451-1860.
A graduate of Beaver College outside Philadelphia (now Arcadia University), Margaret was a talented artist who began a professional career in advertising and design while Bob attended medical school. She dabbled in theater and painted in her free time. In 1957, Bob and Margaret’s first child was born with three more children in the next 5 years. As her family grew, Margaret transferred her love of art and theater into her role as wife and mother. Those who love her remember her extravagantly themed birthday parties, the complex haunted houses culminating with Margaret as the wicked witch, and the elegant costumes she designed and sewed as her children began trying theater. Margaret made sure that each of her children experienced art in numerous ways. She constantly shared the beauty she saw all around her with her children and created an appreciation that has passed through the generations – her daughter and granddaughter make their living as artists, two of her daughters and her son worked in the theater, and all four have a love and aptitude for the arts that has been passed down to every grandchild – a wonderful legacy indeed.
As her children left home, Margaret began once again to pursue her earlier interests. She became involved in community theater and performed with the Barn Players, Theater in the Park and other local theaters for years. She appeared in commercials and feature films. She also worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that community theater – particularly the Barn Players – continued to flourish. Margaret’s commitment to the Barn Players was so complete that the organization named their new stage “The Margaret I. Godfrey Theater” in her honor.
Around the same time that she rediscovered her talent for theater, Margaret once again began to paint with regularity. A frequent contributor to local galleries, coffee shops, and restaurants, Margaret’s work received acclaim through several awards. She painted and sold landscapes, abstracts, plein-air, and several series of stylized still life paintings. All of Margaret’s work conveyed strong emotion and brought a piece of herself; she continued to create beautiful works of feeling almost to her death.
Margaret’s other passion was her gardens. As the family moved from Kansas City to Boston to Denver to Prairie Village to Overland Park, Margaret took barren plots of land and created suburban sanctuaries. In her later years, she found great joy just sitting in the shade of her garden and watching the birds. Margaret loved to watch things grow – her art, her gardens, her children, her grandchildren. She was a wonderful mother, a gifted artist, a gracious friend, and an extraordinary human being.
Margaret leaves behind her son, Tim, and his wife, Janie, of Overland Park; her daughters, Katherine Delmond and Gwendolyn (Wendy) Godfrey also of Overland Park; and her daughter, Melissa (Lisa) Cilley, who lives in Portland, Maine with her husband, Rodger, and their children. She also leaves behind 4 grandsons (Austin Delmond, Scott Fagan, Christian Cilley and Jack Fagan), 4 granddaughters (Laura Berglund, Olivia Delmond, Elaine Cilley and Meredith Cilley), countless friends, neighbors, her fellow artists and thespians, and her gardens. She will be deeply missed by all.
A visitation will be held at D.W. Newcomers Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park on Friday, June 3 from 1:00 to 2:00 with services beginning at 2:00. Interment will be in Johnson County Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Margaret I. Godfrey Memorial Garden Fund to create a lasting piece of beauty in her name. Fond memories and condolences for the family may be left at www.johnsoncountychapel.com
Arrangements: D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Johnson County Chapel, 913-451-1860.
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