Evans Funeral Home announces the death of Margaret Ray Duke Medsker, age 89, who passed away on Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at home while under Heartland Hospice Care of Charleston. Margaret was born October 5, 1925 in Jackson County, the daughter of the late William G and Ruby Wilks Ray. Married Marshall N. (Buck) Duke March 1943, moved to Athens in 1966 and taught 'Teenage Sewing' at Singer Co until 1970. Worked as a sales lady at Belks in Georgia Square Mall until diagnosed with cancer in 1978. Won the cancer battle and retired in 1980. Square dancing began in 1960, to travel and meet people. That ended when Buck died in 1985 from Pancreas cancer. In 1986 Margaret traveled to Charleston, SC for a Square Dance event; met and a year later married Jerry Medsker, Oct 4, 1987. Originally from Boise, Idaho, Jerry has been living in Charleston since 1966, retired in 1991 after 34 years service with Westinghouse Electric Co. For the next 19 years, they became avid square dancers and campers attending all the National Square Dance Conventions & Good Sam Samborees that they could. These travels allowed them to stay overnight in 49 of the 50 US States and in 9 of the Canadian Provinces; enjoying the sights and sounds each location had to offer!! Health issues stopped their travels in 2010.
Survivors include son Don M. Duke, sister Lottie Wilson, step daughter, Lou Duke, grand daughter Teresa Loggins, and husband Jerry Medsker.
The Family will receive friends from 6-8PM on Monday March 16, 2015 at Evans Funeral Home in Jefferson. The burial will follow in the Woodbine Cemetery, Jefferson, Georgia on Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at 11:00AM. Graveside Services will be officiated by Rev. Johnny Ray.
Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson. 706-367-5467.
Online Condolences at www.evansfuneralhomeinc.com
