| Notes |
- Obituary:
GIBSON CITY – Margaret Vera Oyer, 85, of Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community, formerly of Gibson City and Foosland, died at 5 p.m. Saturday (July 3, 2010) at the retirement community.
Her memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 7, at the East Bend Mennonite Church, rural Fisher, with Rev. Michael Dean officiating. Burial will precede the service at 9:30 a.m. in the East Bend Memorial Gardens near the church. Visitation will be from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 6, at the Lamb Funeral Home, Gibson City, and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Wednesday at the church.
Mrs. Oyer was born on Sept. 19, 1924, near Foosland, a daughter of Alvin and Amelia Zehr Birkey. She married Verle Christian Oyer on Aug. 29, 1945. He passed away on Feb. 10, 2003.
She is survived by two sons, Verle Curtis Oyer of Bloomington and Vance Gordon Oyer of Champaign; one daughter, Vera Christine Oyer of Decatur; one sister, Viola Stacey of Champaign; and one brother, Carroll "Kelly" (Minerva) Birkey of Paxton.
Her parents and six brothers also preceded her in death.
Mrs. Oyer attended rural Dixon school in East Bend Township, Champaign County, graduating from eighth grade and then remaining at home during the Depression to help her parents with the duties of a large family and farming until her marriage.
She later served as a nurse's aide at Gibson Manor Nursing Home for three years and as a receptionist in the office of Dr. George Elfers of Bellflower for 12 years.
She battled the progressively debilitating disease multiple sclerosis for 45 years, while maintaining her strong faith in God and engagement with life.
Since her baptism as a youth, she remained a member of East Bend Mennonite Church, where she served in many ways, including Sunday school teacher and superintendent, Bible school chair, and church co-historian with her husband.
She was a charter member of the Illinois Mennonite Historical and Genealogical Society. She enjoyed collecting angels, bells, and butterflies, sewing and knitting, jigsaw and word puzzles, researching genealogy, and conversing with people. Mrs. Oyer was deeply loved by her family, who are grateful to all who supported her in so many ways. Special thanks to the administration and staff of Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community and Advocate BroMenn Hospice for the wonderful care provided to her.
Memorials may be made to Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community, the East Bend Mennonite Church, or the Illinois Mennonite Historical and Genealogical Society.
——————
---------
|
1924 - 2010 (85 years)
