Margaret Vroman

Margaret Ring Vroman, 97, of El Paso, formerly of Junction passed from this life on October 17, 2014.

She was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1917, the eleventh of sixteen children born to Hungarian emigrants of German ethnicity. She was raised in rural, northern Maryland where she learned an appreciation of family, farm life and hard work. Margaret was an excellent student and completed the eighth grade at a , country school. She regretted not having an opportunity to further her education. From the ages of 16 to 21 she worked for a farmer and his wife doing housework, chores, and when needed, field work.

When her sister, Katherine, complained about having a deplorable job doing housework in Lusk, Wyoming and of not having the gumption to quit, Margaret saw this as an opportunity to both help her sister and do some traveling to a part of the country she had only read about in Western novels. Margaret took her sisters job, decided she didnt like it either, so she quit and started working at a local ranch where she cooked and helped with farm chores. It was here she met her cowboy, Ed Vroman, and they were married June 15, 1941.

Ed and Margaret had no qualms about packing up their belongings, kids and pets to move, often to a different state, to find new employment for Ed and new schools for their three boys. Ed farmed, logged, worked in mines and as a carpenter in Washington then worked in the Wyoming oil fields during WWII. In Idaho he farmed, logged and worked in mines before buying a garage in Nevada and becoming a self taught auto mechanic. In all these enterprises Margaret not only ran the household and raised the kids, but was also the accountant and tax preparer while being responsible for many of the chores and some of the field work. They made a good team. After moving 16 times and living in seven different states during 27 years of marriage they decided to retire. Except for leasing a motel in Brownsville, Texas for a couple of years, Ed and Margaret spent their retirement traveling and living in Texas, Arizona and California.

Margaret was 96 years old in May of 2013. She has outlived all of her siblings, one son and her husband Ed who passed away in 1992. Margaret was bright, an avid reader, a prolific correspondent writing to family and the many friends they made at each stop in their travels. She was a good wife, a great mother and a loving grandmother and greatgrandmother. She was athletic, competitive, a great cook and above all a very hard worker. For relaxation she loved hunting, fishing, camping, panning for gold and playing board and card games. Baseball was her favorite team sport. She even taught herself to play the mouth harp, harmonica and the guitar.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 AM, Friday, October 24, 2014 at St. Theresas Catholic Church in Junction. Interment will follow in the Junction City Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of the professionals at Kimble Funeral Home. 3254463076

---