Margaret E. Bursley, 94, of Wakeman, OH went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, July 4, 2024.  She had been staying with her granddaughter, Vicki and Craig Workinger, and great granddaughter, Katie Greene, who have been caring for her in their New London home for several months with the help of Southern Care Hospice.

Margaret E. Bursley (Stahley, Green) was born in Stuttgart, Arkansas on March 27, 1930 to Mabel C. (Schrock) and George Stahley.  She grew up in Stuttgart where she met and married her first husband, Morris D. Green.  They married in 1946 and in Nov., 1950 moved to Lorain, Ohio were Morris worked at the American Shipbuilding Yard. Morris was killed in a shipyard accident on July 3, 1951. Margaret later married Dennis Bursley and they were happily married for 47 years.

Margaret enjoyed being a housewife and mom and she and Dennis bought a farm and extensively remodeled the old house over the years. She loved to garden. She churned cream and made butter from the milk that came from their cow and they raised most of what the family ate.

She started driving school bus in 1962 as the only woman driver with the Firelands School District. (She enjoyed a challenge!) She later became the Transportation Supervisor for Firelands Schools and not only coordinated the 16 bus routes over then 1220 miles of the then district, but also dealt with disciplinary issues, trained future school bus drivers and also drove one of the routes.   She implemented bus driver training at Firelands and then taught Basic School Bus Driving at the Lorain Co JVS for 12 years.  She competed in the School Bus Road-e-o's with other drivers and won the regional in 1968. Later she would become a judge for the state contests. In 2002 she was honored as a former Transportation Supervisor at the Ohio Association of Pupil Transportation for past service as Treasurer for 15 years. She worked on the development of CDL certification when that became a requirement and taught the CDL classes for bus drivers at Lorain Co JVS for many years. She commented many times that she loved her job and felt very blessed.

Margaret never met a stranger. She and Dennis lovingly supported their children and grandchildren by attending school performances, football games and horse shows. They especially loved taking the grandchildren to the Allegany Mountains and camping in the summer. She liked playing board games and puzzles was always up to a challenge.

Margaret loved the Lord and has served Him all of her life. She often credited Him for being with her in difficult times and for all the blessings she had received. She served her church any way she could: church treasurer for 30 years, Sunday school teacher, Bible School, Youth Leader, Sunday morning greater (with hugs) and participated in fund raisers. She was active with daughters, Denice and Peggy, in Emmaus Walks and Outside Kairos Ministry for the loved ones of the incarcerated. She loved people and sharing the Lord's message with them.

She is survived by a sister, Dorothy Philpott (Ned) of Jackson, MI,  her 3 daughters:  A. Marcia Green (Bursley) Shaw of Wakeman, C. Denice Carson (Ralph) of Ashely, OH, and Margaret (Peggy) Custer (Kevin) of Bowling Green, OH.  She also has 6 grandchildren: Victoria Workinger (Craig), Mark Shaw (Danniell Bird), Jeremy Morrow (Evie), Bob Grace (Heather), William Grace (Heather) and Marty Carson (Megan). She has many great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

Margaret was preceded in death by her 1st husband, Morris Green, 2nd husband of 47 years, Dennis Bursley, her brother, George Staley Jr. KY, and sister, Jean Head, TX.

Friends and family will be received on Monday, July 8, from 5-7 p.m. at Eastman Funeral Home, 200 West Main Street, New London. Visitation will be held again on Tuesday, from 11 a.m.until the time of services at the Clarksfield United Methodist Church, 5151 Zenobia Road, Burial will follow at Clarksfield United Methodist Cemetery.

Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to Clarksfield United Methodist Church, 5151 Zenobia Rd., Wakeman, OH 44889.