Margery Myrtle Walker

Margery Myrtle Walker, daughter of Charles and Emma (Wahlert) Jayne, was born March 11, 1930, in Greeley Township in Audubon County, Iowa, and died November 3, 2018, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa, at the age of 88 years.
Margery was baptized at the Exira Christian Church in Exira and graduated from Exira schools in 1948 then taught in rural schools.
On November 14, 1952, she was united in marriage to Spike Walker at the Exira Christian Church, and this union was blessed with four children: John, William, Sarah and Joseph.
Spike and Margery farmed the Walter Green farm, which they later purchased. They grew cash crops and raised hogs and cattle and milked cows. In 2003, Spike and Margery moved into Exira. Spike passed away in 2016, and Margery moved to the Care Center in 2017.
Margery was a stay-at-home mom for most of her life, although she did work at the Exira Community Schools as a kindergarten assistant in the late 1960s. She also worked for many years as a substitute teacher.
She was a member of the Merry Meeters neighborhood club and the local Saturday night card club.
Margery was very active in the Exira Christian Church. She was the junior high choir director and later the adult choir director for more than 30 years. She helped with Sunday school and church programs during this time as well.
She was on the Quasquicentennial Committee in 1981-82, which was instrumental in planning all activities and raising money for the Exira Rec Center. She enjoyed being in the kitchen band during this time and later was active in the Exira Community Band for many years.
Music played a large role in Margery’s life. She loved to sing and she was asked to sing at several showers, weddings and funerals through the years.
As well as raising her family and cooking three meals a day, she loved being outdoors helping with the chores, tending a large vegetable and flower garden and raising her horses.
She was an avid reader. Among her favorite authors were Laura Ingalls Wilder and Margery Allingham.
When she finally had grandchildren, she delighted in babysitting and attending their ballgames and other school activities.
Preceding her in death were her husband Marion “Spike” Walker, her parents, her brother James Jayne, her brothers- and sisters-in-law Urb Henrich, Art Runge, Vic and Virginia Beckman, Max Hensley, Dorothy and Dale Yoder, Betty and Emmert Johnston, Lillian and Bruce Wedemeyer and Howard Walker.
Survivors include her children John Walker of Exira, Iowa; William “Bill” and wife Rhonda Walker of Exira, Iowa; Sarah and husband Eric Gross of Fontanelle, Iowa; and Joseph “Joe” and wife Denise Walker of Brayton, Iowa; grandchildren Clint Walker of Brayton, Iowa; Alec Walker of Ames, Iowa; Rachel Walker of Omaha, Neb.; Rebecca Gross of Chicago, Ill.; Christine Gross of Johnston, Iowa; Emma and husband Alex Bireline and their son Reu Bireline of Atlantic, Iowa; Ann and husband Austin Williams of Elkhorn, Nebraska, Nora Walker of Denver, Colo.; Joseph Walker of Ames, Iowa; sister Helen Runge of Exira, Iowa; sisters-in-law Florence Jayne of Paisley, Ore.; Phyllis Hensley of Burnett, Texas; Forrest and wife Shirley Walker of Minden, Iowa; Kelly and wife Betty Walker of Rose Valley, Penn.; Marjorie Walker-Paulsen and husband Charles Paulsen of Exira, Iowa; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
The family will meet with friends Wednesday morning, November 7, 2018, from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service at the Exira Christian Church in Exira, Iowa. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Glen Meyers on Wednesday morning at 10:30 a.m. at the Exira Christian Church in Exira. Interment will be in the Exira Cemetery in Exira. The casket bearers will be Joseph Walker, Clint Walker, Alex Bireline, Austin Williams, Eric Gross, and Richard Johnston.