Mrs. Margaret F. Sutherland, age 85, of Florence, Ala., passed away Monday, Feb. 9, 2015, after a brief illness.
Mrs. Sutherland grew up in Ames, Iowa, and graduated from Iowa State University with a B.S. degree in history and government. She was active in Nebraska’s League of Women’s Voters where she became state president. As the Nebraska legislature and governor were forming the Nebraska Department of Environmental Control, she accepted an appointment to that agency, serving three years until moving to Alabama.
She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Florence and was enthusiastic about traveling the U.S. and Canada by motorhome. She enjoyed sewing, needlepoint, reading, bridge and growing roses. She was very proud of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and their accomplishments.
The memorial service will be held Sunday, March 8, 2015, at 3 p.m. at the Trinity Episcopal Church with the Rev. Andrew Keyse officiating. A time of visitation will be held in the parish hall at 1:30 p.m.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years, William N. “Bill” Sutherland; children, Ann L. Peterson (Gregory) of Gering, Neb., Neil R. Sutherland (Ramona) of Cedar Hill, Tenn., Jane E. Sutherland of Lincoln, Neb., and George D. Sutherland (Carrie) of League City, Texas; grandchilden, Erik Peterson (Lori) of Gering, Neb., Davin Peterson (Sara) of Gering, Neb., Rachel Miller (Russell) of Dedham, Mass., Allison Hettinger (Christian) of Leawood, Kan., Sarah Baldwin (Jeremy) of Springfield, Tenn., Emily Hollingsworth (Sam) of Springfield, Tenn., Adria Chilcote of Berlin, Germany, Melissa Aguiler (Edgar) of Lincoln, Neb., Ben Huber of Lincoln, Neb., Daniel Huber (Casandra) of Freemont, Neb., Clayton Sutherland, Baton Rouge, La., Jessica Maxwell (Stephen) of League City, Texas, and Clare Sutherland of League City, Texas; 17 great-grandchildren.
Honorary pallbearers will be Marlys Engelstad, Harold Parker, David Mays, Kristen Seabol, Stephen Engelstad and Martin Engelstad.
The family offers their thanks to Dr. Robert Mann for many years of thoughtful service.
Please consider memorials to Friends of the Florence-Lauderdale Library or the Memorial Fund at Trinity Episcopal Church.
