Margaret Louise Leverich

Margaret Louise Leverich, 73 of Pittsfield, formerly of Detroit, Illinois, passed away peacefully at 5:20 p.m. on February 2, 2016 at Liberty Village in Pittsfield.  She bravely fought her illness for almost two years and always kept a positive mindset saying more than once “it’s in God’s hands”. Margaret was born September 2, 1942 on River Road in Louisiana, Missouri. She was the daughter of Edward and Eileen Beck Chandler.

Margaret attended schools in the Louisiana, Missouri area.  At age 18 she moved to Alton, Illinois where she worked as a waitress. She then moved to Kansas and over the next 18 years she would live in 12 towns in Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois.  She worked at the Brown Shoe Factory in Pittsfield from 1973-1974. Margaret started working at The Barn restaurant in Detroit in 1978 and would work there until it closed in the mid 1990’s.  While working there she became known as “Maggie” a nickname given to her by one of her regular customers, Donal Daniel.  From that time on her customers knew her as Maggie or Maggie Mae. After The Barn closed she worked a short time at Stark Brothers Nursery in Louisiana, Missouri.  Margaret along with her friend Lois Stanley ran the Dari Delite at Detroit.  She also leased the restaurant at Milton and a restaurant in Curryville, Missouri and ran each on her own. She worked at Dink’s Diner in Milton which later become Mangley’s. Maggie enjoyed visiting with her customers and the teasing from the "liars table", which she could hand right back to them. She retired from the café in April 2014. Margaret was famous for her macaroni salad which had her own special little touches. Everyone knew it was Maggie’s macaroni salad from the first bite. She loved to make new unusual recipes for everyone to try.

She enjoyed trips to casinos with family and friends. Her trip to Las Vegas with her friends Lois, Sis, Tonya and Shawn was among her favorite trips and most memorable, it was also her first and only trip on a jet.  She also enjoyed many day trips and visits to Kansas with her children and grandchildren. Margaret lived in Detroit for 36 years and met many wonderful people throughout the years from the Detroit, Milton, Pearl and Florence area.  In 1988 when her home burned all these wonderful people were there for her. Their generosity was shown in so many ways for which she was always grateful.  She was lovingly known as MaMa (Ma-Ma) by her family, a name bestowed upon her by her granddaughter, Makayla who couldn’t quite say Grandma. Prior to being MaMa she was known as ‘Grandma Down At Detroit’ by her grandchildren Jeremy, Kristina, and Tisha. Margaret moved into the Findley Place Apartments in November 2014 where she enjoyed lunches and visits in the activity room with her neighbors and friends. Margaret was a feisty and amusing lady. She would do whatever she could for people and never expect anything in return. She was a forgiving person and a hard worker. She always said ‘I listen to what people say but that’s as far as it goes’.  She was full of words of wisdom that she herself truly lived by. She was loved by many and will be missed very much.

Margaret was baptized at age 14 into the Baptist faith. Later she attended the Cornerstone Independent Church in Milton.

Margaret is survived by her daughter Lisa (Monte) Ruble of Pittsfield, her sons Steven (Penny) Leverich of Pittsfield and Jason (Crystal) Leverich of Pleasant Hill.  Also surviving are four grandchildren Jeremy (Christina) Ruble and son Will of Griggsville, Kristina Ruble of Beardstown, Tisha (Nick) Millender of Iowa Park, Texas, and Makayla Leverich of Pleasant Hill, two great grandchildren Miles and Victoria, three step grandchildren and seven step great grandchildren.  She is survived by six brothers Carroll (Pat) Chandler of Louisiana, Missouri; Larry (Rhonda) Chandler of Laddonia, Missouri; Dale (Mary Ann) of Louisiana, Missouri; Mike (Betty) of Spencerberg, Missouri; Clark Chandler of Green City, Missouri; and Dennis (Melinda) Chandler of Perry, Illinois in addition to 41 nephews and nieces.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents Edward and Eileen, a brother David Chandler, and one grandson Steven.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 6, 2016 at the Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield with Marie Smith of Milton officiating.  Visitation will be Friday, February 5, 2016 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery (from Louisiana, Missouri, six miles north on Highway 79 at the Junction of Hwy 79 and State Road YY).

Memorial contributions can be made to the East Pike Lending Library in Detroit or the Mississippi Valley Church Camp near Detroit.  Condolences may be sent to the family at www.nieburfh.com. The Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield has been entrusted with the service.