Margaret, Mom, Aunt Margaret, Mrs. Lamb, Margaret Shaw, Granny… Her titles were many, and she lived up to every single one of them. To most, she was Granny. She preferred that title. She thought “Grandma” sounded too old, so she became “Granny” to everyone, whether she was your grandma or not.
Living a full 94 years, she lived 1,000 lives. She was one Mamie and William Rees’s six children, born in 1926, growing up on a farm, playing pranks on her siblings, being on the receiving end of her ornery sister Irene, listening to her sister Mary play the piano, enjoying long visits with Ruth, and fishing with John and Elmer.
At 18 years old, she fell head over heels for Jim Lamb. They had Bill exactly one year later. He was the “apple of her eye” and definitely the light of her life.
Mrs. Lamb started teaching when she was just 19 years old in a one room schoolhouse. She taught at Liberty, Potosi, Union, Mound City, Kincaid, and finally Marmaton Valley. Mrs. Lamb was the kind of teacher that thrived on relationships. She was fair, consistent, and kind. She had the ability to connect and bond with even the toughest of students and used humor to discipline. Many students and co-workers look back and cherish their time with her. She enjoyed a long career in education and retired after 42 years in 1988.
There were busy years of teaching, helping on the family farm with Granddad Lamb and Jim, enjoying Bill and Sharilyn’s children (Barry, Merril, Kyla, and Kendra), drinking coffee with the neighbors (Julie, Sam, and Helen Rife and Terry Feurborn), enjoying a special friendship with Martin and Mary Henderson, gardening, quilting, baking, and taking care of the chickens. Sleepovers with the grandkids were weekly, along with hosting get togethers and family dinners. She was a faithful and generous member of the Moran Baptist Church. She merged her love for her faith and for children by making it possible for children to attend Amazing Grace Baptist Church Camp in Ottawa for free. That tradition continues to this day, and many lives have been impacted as a result.
After Jim’s battle with cancer, Margaret worked for a few more years before retiring in 1988. That’s when an old friend showed up at the house. Kyla and Kendra remember a truck pulling into the driveway, and a tall man greeting Granny with a big hug and smooch. The rest is history. Granny married Les Shaw a short time later, and she moved to his family farm. She became “Granny” to Les’s kids (Jerry, Sharon, and Karon), and to their children. She became an intricate part of the Pleasanton community and to Les’s family; serving in church, maintaining an impeccable garden, going to ball games, helping babysit grandkids and great-grandkids, all while, of course, keeping her hair and nails perfect and always dressing in the trendiest apparel. She and Les enjoyed 25 years of marriage before his passing.
The next chapter of Granny’s life was mixed with enjoying the grandchildren, great-grandchildren (Taelyn, Shaylee, Kristin, Drew, Luke, and Adam), and great-great granddaughter (Chevy). She absolutely loved playing games with the grandkids, listening to piano hymns, and singing along. The family has many memories of sitting in the living room, and Granny saying “just one more” after hours and hours. She would often say, “Now when I ‘kick the bucket’ you make sure you play that at my funeral.” She was always on the go. Even in her 90’s, she went to ball games, attended school events, and was faithful to every service at church, even helping when this church was built. From picking up nails or wood scraps to sweeping, she kept constantly busy, consistently showing her incredible work ethic. She also loved riding in the mule with Bill while he worked on the farm and was at his side almost every moment of the day until she needed more professional care.
Her final chapter of life was spent at Country Place Memory Care in Fort Scott. The nurses and workers there loved her, took amazing care of her, and became her family when regular family visits were limited due to Covid.
Although she lived an amazing life, it was only possible because of Jesus. The truth is, no matter how great your career is or how close your family is, eternity in heaven is only possible if you trust Jesus as your personal Savior.
Individual Respects and Guest Registry can be made from 9 am to 4 pm Monday, February 8, 2021 at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton, Kansas Chapel. Funeral service 2 pm Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at the Midpoint Baptist Church, Moran, Kansas. Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery. Visitation 1 pm to service time at the church. Contributions are suggested to the Midpoint Baptist Church Camp Fund for Kids. Online condolences for the family can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.
