On December 7th, 2023, our beloved “Margie”, 80, rested her head on the pillow next to her loving husband and peacefully passed away. Margie was a beloved sister, wife, mother and grandmother and the true embodiment of what it means to have a heart of gold. A “people-person” in every aspect of her life, Margie touched the lives of so many with her warmth, generosity, kindness and unwavering love. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.
Margaret (Margie) Ellen Stafford-Franklin was born on September 24, 1943 in their farm home near King City, MO.; second daughter to Herschel Glen & Edna Irene Guest.
Margie attended the one room schoolhouse in Union Star for her primary education and graduated from King City High School in 1961. Immediately following, she began her career with Tootle-Enright National Bank (later merged with American National Bank) in St. Joseph, MO. Margie dedicated twenty years as Assistant Vice-President and Auditor until 1982 when she joined Provident Savings and Loan as Marketing Director. After nine years with Provident, she joined KFEQ/KSJQ in St. Joseph as Sales & Office Manager.
She served on many boards and committees throughout the years including being President of the Northwest Missouri Bank Women’s Association, Chairman of the Missouri Bank Women’s Convention, President of the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce Diplomats, the St. Joseph Advertising Club, and was elected Governor of the four state area representing Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska & lowa. She served on the National American Advertising Federation Board of Directors in Washington, D.C., and was elected Chairman of the Council of Governors of AAF and AAF Executive committee representing all 49 states. She also graduated from the University of Colorado School of Bank Marketing.
After moving to the lake, Margie worked towards earning her Real Estate Broker-Salesperson license in 1995. She has received numerous awards for her success in real estate and is a member of the Bagnell Dam Board of REALTORS. Margie received the Realtor of the Year award in 2002 and previously received the Congeniality Award. She obtained the designations of Certified Residential Specialist, Graduate Residential Institute, Accredited Buyers Representative and Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist. She was with Gaslight Gundaker Properties, Four Seasons, and most recently Keller Williams. A newspaper article published on February 5, 1998 in St. Joseph, Missouri, the headline read: "Former bank executive succeeds in real estate". Here is an excerpt from the article: "Margie Stafford is remembered fondly by those in the St. Joseph area who knew this dynamic woman before her relocation to the Lake of the Ozarks in the fall of 1994." She had worked in St. Joseph for over thirty years when she moved to the Lake.
Margie's passion for real estate did not supersede her love for family and friends. Joining Bill Franklin in 1993, she immediately shared the love and responsibility of his two children, Rob and Chrisssy Franklin. Hosting their college friends from MU at the Lake and later their families and friends was Margie’s pure enjoyment! Planning menus and having plenty of food were at the top of her list. When she put on her apron and rang the dinner bell, you knew good food was on the table. She always said one of her most precious moments was taking Melanie (Rob's wife) shopping for maternity clothes for the arrival of their first Grandchild, Keely. And the greatest honor was planning Chrissy's wedding held on the beach on Marco Island, Florida (expensive, but worth it).
She will always be "Nanie Margie" to her Grandchildren; Keely Shaye Franklin & William Carter Franklin, Kaylin Madison McCan, William James McCan and Maxwell Glen (named after Margie's father) McCan. Anything (well almost anything) they wanted, Margie did her best to provide. Whether it was hosting 10 little girls for Keely's 10th birthday or Carter's baseball team, she always welcomed the event with open arms and heart. Everyone loved how she would post the weekend menus on the refrigerator and made sure there would be plenty of frozen chocolate bananas. She always referred to the family as "our family…our children…our grandchildren".
Her love for her husband, Bill Franklin, was never ending, exciting and always surprising. Margie once stated that "His love for his children was what attracted me on our first meeting and never changed. He is Papa Bill to the grandchildren, a generous and loving father, a wonderful husband, best friend, confidant, and supporter in all the ups and downs of real estate". They traveled, went boating, lived on the waters edge at the Lake, spent 9 weeks in the winter on Marco Island, Fl, and she even slept on the top bunk at the Big Buck Club in Bigelow. She loved spending time at the cabin in Bigelow, helping with the decorating and giving advice on remodeling.
If you ever received a Christmas letter from Margie, it was interesting, entertaining and described a fun-filled year.
Margie was strong, loving, caring and had a great motto she used in real estate. "Who's Number One? You are!" She lived by those words in every aspect of her life. She found joy and fulfillment in doing for others…and she never met a stranger.
Margie had a strong bond with her sister, Martha, who she talked to often and would get together with on holidays.
Margie is preceded in death by Charles Stafford in 1988 and her parents. Surviving Sister-Martha Rainey Drake (Gene) of Maryville, MO, Rob & Melanie Franklin of Lenexa, KS., Chrissy & Chris McCan of St. Joseph, MO, and grandchildren Keely Shaye Franklin & William Carter Franklin, Kaylin Madison, William James and Maxwell Glen McCan.
Farewell Services and Public Livestream 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. The family will gather with friends 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Monday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory.
