OBITUARY: Mary Margaret Hammersley

Mary Margaret Hammersley, 85, resident of Springfield, formally of Eldorado, passed away Monday March 25, 2013, at the Lewis Memorial Christian Village in Springfield.

She was the only child of the late Alvis Scroggins and Lucille DeVillez Scroggins. She attended school at Lincoln Grade School and Eldorado High School. She married John Emil Hammersley and they were married for 58 years until he preceded her in death. She lived in New Orleans while John served in the U.S. Navy. Margaret lived in Eldorado many years where she operated her beauty shop, Margaret's on State Street. She was a member of College Heights Baptist Church before moving to Mt. Vernon where she attended Wesley United Methodist Church. Margaret will be remembered as a lover of Boston Terrier bulldogs, piecing and quilting many intricate quilts, and making caramels for family and friends at Christmas.

Surviving is her daughter, Louise of Springfield and son, John Lee of Eldorado. Also surviving are grandchildren, Sheri Castelli (husband Vic), Angela Sharer (husband Steve), Karyn Herndon, Jonathan Hammersley (wife Kristi), Joshua Hammersley (wife Karen) and Jordan Hammersley; great-grandchildren, Courtney and Bianca Castelli, Morgan Underwood, Austin and Rachel Sharer, Kennedy Herndon, Eva Keefe Hammersley, Christopher and Jaxson Hammersley and Chaz Garnett; cousins, Toni Conover (husband Robert) of Bradford, Tenn., Bud Watson (wife Dot) of Eddyville, Ky.; brothers-in-law Mike Hammersley (Katrina) of Shelbyville, Ind., Jim Hammersley (Catherine) of Simpson; and sister-in-law Sue Bishop (Lee) of Phoenix, Ariz. She also leaves three beloved Boston Terriers - Miss Muggins, Toby Tyler and Barney Otis.

Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday March 29, 2013, at Lindale Cemetery in Eldorado with the Rev. Russell Helton officiating. Because of Margaret's love for animals, the family has requested no flowers and that in lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Animal Protective League in her memory or to Lewis Memorial Christian Village, 3400 West Washington, Springfield, Ill.

The family would like to thank Dr. Michael Bova and nurses, and the staff and nurses of Lewis Memorial Christian Village for their loving compassion and care. Expressions of sympathy and condolences may be sent to the family at the website www.colonialterracefuneralhome.com