Margaret Opal (Taylor) O’Neil, 76, passed away June 30, in Great Falls.
Graveside services will be Friday, July 15, at 11:00 am at Big Sandy Cemetery. A luncheon at the Big Sandy Lutheran Church will follow the service. Rockman Funeral Chapel was entrusted with arrangements.
Margaret was born July 9, 1939 in Hendricks, West Virginia to John “Jack” and Opal Mae (Helmick) Taylor. She grew up in Choteau and graduated from Choteau High School in 1957. Margaret married Alfred Burkhead in September 15, 1956. Together they had 2 sons, James and Jack. Alfred later died in 1974 in a car accident. During that time Margaret was a secretary at the Chester Public Schools for 10 years. She later married Arnold O’Neil in 1976. They lived on the family farm west of Big Sandy and eventually retired to Big Sandy. Margaret moved to the Big Sandy Nursing Home in February 2014 and eventually to HighGate Senior Living in Great Falls in July 2014.
Margaret was baptized in the Lutheran church and she enjoyed the Ladies group activities and sang in the church choir. She read romance novels and had collected nearly 2000 books along with music boxes. She enjoyed visiting friends and family, her many pets, and working in her flower garden. When she was younger Margaret showed horses and had won many awards buckles. She was an active member of the Eastern Star, Big Sandy Senior Center, and assisted with Rainbow Girls Club.
Survivors include her sons, James Burkhead of Big Sandy and Jack Burkhead of Oakley, KS; sisters, CoraLee (Gene) Welty of Big Sandy and Mariana Cornett of Great Falls; daughter-in-law, Candi Marino of Big Sandy; 2 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren; and special friends, Joe and Marsha Horel, Kim (Devin) Grammar, and Jason (Sarah)Horel.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husbands; brothers-in-law, Marlyn Cornett and Fred O’Neil.
Memorials can be made to Big Sandy Medical Center and Senior Center.
Condolences can be made to Margaret’s memorial page at http://www.whittedfuneralchapel.
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