Margaret Garrigues' Obituary
Margaret W. Garrigues was born August 18, 1935 to Homer Grace Flowers Williams and Vardry McBee Williams, and grew up in College Park, FL when it was all dirt roads and orange groves as far as the eye could see. She was a playground leader at the local park where she was the Jacks champion. She was a Girl Scout and went to Camp Juliette Low many summers. She loved to water-ski on Lake Ivanhoe and surrounding areas. As an adult, she would ski on her lunch hour, taking off from the dock so as not to get her hair wet. Margaret graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a BS in Dental Hygiene. She met her future husband, Robert G. Garrigues, when she was a bridesmaid in a wedding, and he was hired to sing at the wedding. Since he didn’t have a car, Margaret took him home. When he asked if he could have her phone number, she said, “I’m in the book!” Six weeks later, when Margaret was departing with friends for a cruise to Cuba, Robert gave her a new pair of day gloves with an engagement ring secreted in one of the fingers. They were married on September 3rd, 1960 and honeymooned in Vero Beach, where Hurricane Donna sent them packing. It was an auspicious beginning to a 56 year marriage which ended with Robert’s death in 2018. Robert and Margaret lived in Hapeville, Georgia while Robert was in graduate school, and then moved to Tallahassee, Florida for Robert to complete his PhD. They moved to Gainesville with their four children in 1972 where they lived and worked the rest of their lives.
Margaret was a vivacious, spirited, sensitive and intense person who loved her family fiercely. Her favorite activities included swimming, running, playing tennis and bridge, gardening, volunteering, and taxiing her four children to various activities. She was a long-time member of Trinity United Methodist Church, the Gainesville Garden Club, the 300 Club, the UF Health-Shands Ladies Auxiliary, and various fitness clubs around Gainesville. She was also a dedicated poll worker, serving as the clerk of her precinct for many years. Additionally, she supported her husband and children by being very involved in the Gainesville Community Playhouse, Dance Alive!, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, TUMC Youth activities, and youth sports. She was known far and wide for her made-from-scratch pound cakes and her children have really never been able to replicate the recipe. That special magic is gone from the world and will be deeply missed.
Margaret is survived by her four delightful children, none of whom are either in jail, or on drugs, which was her highest hope for them. In fact, they are all college graduates, have good jobs, are married and have children. They are as follows, Robert M. Garrigues (Deb), Sarah M. Garrigues-Jones (John), Amanda Garrigues DeMouey (Scott), John T. Garrigues, III (Amy). She is also survived by her grandchildren, who were all her favorites: Noah, Padgett, and Tristan Jones, Emily and Samantha Garrigues, Finn DeMouey, and George and Lula Garrigues. Once they were born, her children took a definite backseat in her loving eyes. In addition to all the time, attention, and love she gave them, one of Margaret’s greatest gifts was providing prepaid college funds for all of her grandchildren.
Margaret will be interred with her parents and brother at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Gotha, Florida. A graveside service will be held at 11 am, on March 23rd, 2024.
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