Obituary of Margaret Irene Mathews

Margaret Irene Mathews “Margo”, 82, of Sapulpa, Oklahoma passed from this life on March 18, 2025, in Tulsa, Oklahoma due to heart failure.

She was born on August 1, 1942, in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Earl and Virginia Ashby. Margo was also the younger sister of Gary Ashby. She graduated from Tulsa Central High School, where she met Johnnie Mathews. The two married on August 19, 1960, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They had two children, Lillian and John. In 1976, they moved to Sapulpa where Margo continued her education, obtaining two vocational degrees from Platt College in Industrial Drafting and later Commercial Art. Using her degrees, she pursued a successful career in the oil and gas industry, beginning as a draftsman designing pressure vessels at Fabwell Corporation. She later retired from there as the Director of Quality Control, however, taking a small pause from 1987 to 1988 where she pursued her commercial art desire. She was the Art Director for a billboard company in Atlanta, Georgia, where Margo said the traffic was undesirable.

Margaret was a wonderful artist at sketching, drawing, and especially painting. She enjoyed being involved in local organizations such as Ladies for Libert and Blue Star Mothers. She was an avid dog lover, having many throughout her lifetime. Her true passion was horses, having owned a few in her younger years. Margaret also attended regularly and was an active member at her church, Christ United Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Her life revolved around her family. Anyone that knew her always heard about what her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren were up to. She loved organizing and hosting family events on holidays, celebrating everyone’s birthday. She was famous for spoiling her grandchildren, including birthday gifts, but also “unbirthday” gifts for the other grandchildren when it wasn’t their birthdays. She loved to laugh and visit, including sharing her terrific humor all the way to her very last moments.

Margaret is preceded in death by her former husband Johnnie, father Otis Earl Ashby, mother Virginia Rose Bean, and her brother Gary Ashby.

She is survived by her children Lillian Elmore and her husband Tim of Collinsville, Oklahoma, and John Mathews and his wife Megan of Bristow, Oklahoma, daughter-in-law Shelly Mathews of Wagoner, Oklahoma, nephews Rob Ashby and his wife Michelle o f Perkins, Oklahoma and Gary Lee Ashby and his wife Chailla of Mannford, Oklahoma, granddaughters Lauren Holt and her husband Ryan of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Stephanie Elmore and her wife Maggie of Fayetville, Arkansas and Kristen Elmore of Tulsa, Oklahoma, grandson Jacob Mathews and his wife Leslie of Ardmore, Oklahoma, granddaughter-in-law Nora Harrison and her husband Austin of Cushing, Oklahoma, great granddaughter Juliana Holt, and great grandson Axton Holt.

Margaret’s parting wishes were to thank everyone for visiting her and for their continued prayers and support in her final days. She said they were a true comfort.