MARGARET OVEDA BURKS STANLEY

Margaret Oveda Burks Stanley was born on April 15, 1923, and entered rest on July 11, 2025, having attained the age of 102 years, 2 months and 27 days. She passed peacefully from this world, with her hands gently held by her daughter, Sara, at Creekside Living Center in Huntsville, Texas where she had spent her last few years enjoying the warmth and care of this excellent facility. She was Momma to 4 children and Mamaw to 8 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and 15 great-great-grandchildren.

Margaret was born to Maude and Edgar Burks of Denning, Texas. At the tender age of five, she lost her mother to illness, with the remainder of her childhood spent in the loving care of her stepmother, Ruth Rawson Burks.

She married James Kenneth Stanley on October 26, 1940. Together they built a life in Broaddus, Texas. Soon after they married, the nation entered World War II and Kenneth entered the Army Air Corp. Like many others of his generation, he served 38 months in an overseas posting. During the war years, also like many others of her generation, Margaret anxiously awaited his return while caring for their first born daughter. Once he returned they welcomed three more children, and operated the family dairy farm until the early 1960’s.

In 1960, with a willingness to work hard and not much more, she opened the Dairy Mart, first offering a short order menu of hamburger, fries, and soft drink for 35 cents. Later in 1963, the Dairy Mart was expanded with the addition of a dining room, and a new menu that included heartier fare like fried chicken and T-bone steaks, cheerfully and deliciously served to welcome customers. This venture ran its course after ten plus years, and after a brief “retirement,” Margaret found that staying home all day was boring, so she acquired and operated a hardware store and subsequently a small grocery store for another ten plus years. Her dedication to serving her community ultimately earned her the official key to the town of Broaddus. “Retirement” beckoned again, this time with more urgency to spend time at home with family and friends, who always felt welcome to just “drop by and visit.” It was almost impossible to walk into her kitchen and not find food on the table, biscuits and gravy, chicken and dressing, chocolate pie and coconut cakes. She spent many days around a quilting frame with close friends making sure that a whole host of children and grandchildren had a warm quilt for those chilly nights. She also enjoyed playing dominoes or “42” with a close circle of friends and on these occasions, if you just “dropped by to visit,” don’t expect her undivided attention.

Margaret was a member of First Baptist Church of Broaddus for many years, most of eight decades, and faithfully served her church as song leader, Sunday school teacher and reliable volunteer to support church activities. She remained active in youth and adult ministries well into her later years. Not only was her personal faith important to her, she was also the spiritual leader of her family and was the glue that bound her family, and perhaps many others, to the church family.

Margaret is survived by her son, Kenneth Joe Stanley and wife Teresa; her daughter, Sara Stanley Culbreth and husband Paul; and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Kenneth Stanley; her daughter, Dianne Stanley Davis and husband Leonard; her daughter, Barbara Janice Stanley; her mother, Maude Lee Burks; father, Edgar Earl Burks; her stepmother, Ruth Rawson Burks; siblings, Maureen Burks Harvey, Robert Burks, Elroy Burks, Alese Burks Garrison, Wynonna Metteauer, and William “Billy” Burks; and a grandson, James Davis.

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing, in the memory of Margaret Stanley, to Light the Way Child Learning Center, Broaddus, Texas. www.lightthewaydaycare.com. (It is located right behind the Dairy Mart.)

Funeral services were held Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at First Baptist Church, Broaddus, with the pastor, Dr. W. Wayne Barth, officiating. Committal service and interment followed at Broaddus Cemetery.

Visit www.wymanrobertsfh.com for memories and condolences.

Arrangements were under the direction of Wyman Roberts Funeral Home in San Augustine, Texas.