RICHARDSON, Texas — Margaret Ann Redmon was a gentle, peaceful, gracious spirit with a life dedicated to church music and a heart for missions. She passed away June 27, 2014 in her Richardson home surrounded by family. She is preceded in death by her parents and four brothers.
Margaret is survived by her husband, Jerry Redmon; her twin sister, Betty Clark Keenan, Great Bend; her daughter, Cynthia and son-in-law Barry Pennings; her son, Keith and daughter-in-law Andrea Redmon and her daughter Julie Redmon; Cindy Stone; her grandchildren, Allen Redmon and wife Kimberly, Gregory Pennings and wife Karna, Amy Frigoli and husband Italo, Karen Manus-Pennings and husband Kevin, Andy Redmon and fiancée Bridget, Russell Pennings, Alex Boudreaux, and Rachel Boudreaux; and her great-grandchildren Evelyn and Adam Pennings, Jacob and Grace Redmon, Annabelle, Margaret, and Lucia Frigoli; as well as a large extended family.
Margaret was born on Aug. 4, 1931, in Henrietta Okla. and graduated from high school in 1947 in Great Bend. She married on Sept. 23, 1949, in Lafayette Ind., living there awhile. From there, Margaret and Jerry lived in Arlington Va., Triangle Va., Ellinwood, Cedar Rapids Iowa, and finally to Richardson Texas in 1959, with one brief stint in Reston Va. in the 1970s. Margaret’s was a life steeped in church music, beginning piano lessons at age five and finishing at age 18 when her teacher told Margaret that she had learned all she could. Later she would train as an organist at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and then private lessons at Baylor. Music filled her life and nourished her and those around her, whether playing for a church or teaching her grandchildren her own abiding joy in piano, voice, and the hymns.
She would go on to serve many small-church choirs and perform as church pianist in Ellinwood, Cedar Rapids, and at Richardson Heights Baptist Church. Further, she was a dedicated organist at Crestview Baptist Church, Richardson from 1965 to 1989 and afterwards a choir member of Richardson First Baptist.
Her music ministries stretched from cantatas to general hymns, choir work to Christmas and Easter performances. Her musical talents were as broad as her love for the form itself and the tenderness of her spirit was particularly felt in her touch on the keys. In addition to music, Margaret also worked in retail at Sanger Harris (later renamed Foley’s), which was eventually purchased by Macy’s.
Her desire for travel, however, pulled her away from retail and into the world at large. Margaret and Jerry enjoyed years of travel together, visiting Alaska, Hawaii, and many other U.S. states, Canada, Mexico, Latvia, Russia, Indonesia, Great Britain, and much of the rest of Europe.
Not surprisingly, Margaret’s faith went with her on her travels and out into the world. She became a member of the Mainland Advisory Council for Hawaii Baptist Academy and participated in many mission trips, including those to Blenheim Baptist Church in Leeds, England; Hope Baptist Church in Hebden Bridge, England; and was a member of the mission teams to Latvia and Bandung, Indonesia. She also joined Richardson First Baptist on its choral tour of Germany and Austria in 1990, of Leeds, England, in 1995, and of Riga, Latvia, in 2000. Locally, her faith reached others in 1964 as a founding member of Crestview Baptist Church, a mission and church plant from Richardson Heights Baptist Church.
Later, she would lead Richardson First Baptist’s Missionary House Ministry Team for more than 20 years. Margaret also helped coordinate the British Pastoral Internship Program for Richardson First Baptist and presided over Richardson First Baptist’s Women on Mission. She also directed Richardson First Baptist’s Women Missionary Union during 2003-2004.
In addition, she served as president of the Richardson-North Dallas Christian Women’s Club and served on its planning board for many years. She also participated in Richardson Women’s Club and a mentor for Richardson First Baptist’s MOPS. Her family misses her greatly but is confident that she is home now in a place of certainty, peace, and love.
Margaret’s visitation was held at Restland Funeral Home on June 30, 2014 from 6–8 p.m. After a private family burial, a celebration of her life was at Richardson First Baptist on July 1 at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family would much appreciate donations to Richardson First Baptist’s Missionary House Ministry (Go to www.fbcr.org and then to Give Online. You’ll be able to specify the purpose of your donation).

Funeral arrangements provided by
Restland Funeral Home**
13005 Greenville Avenue
Dallas, TX, 75243
Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, July 3, 2014