Margaret Smith

[Phil Lilley]

Monday was a Memorial Day spent like dozens of others for Margaret Smith of Harrisonville – making memories on Lake Taneycomo. Others may boast of years of such tradition, but Margaret likely has them beat – she turned 91 in March and just retired her favorite Zebco reel last year, a present from her husband from the ‘50s.

As a young secretary for a Springfield bus company, the then Miss Cather was courted long distance by her love, Erwin Smith, from a dairy farm near Joplin. After eloping to a justice of the peace in Claremore, OK, in 1941, the newlyweds soon discovered fishing for fun and food.

“You know, the thing was then, no one had anything much,” she said. “But we would get a can of chicken guts and go to the river. We thought that was great fun.”

Their daughter, Judy (Reece) was born in Springfield before they moved to Neosho, where Erwin owned and operated buses for the school district. Then they moved to Joplin where he worked for the Joplin Bus Co. A bout with tetanus prompted the move to Harrisonville in 1951.

“They didn’t think that he would live, but, of course, he did – until 1967. “

After her husband’s death, she needing something to do since the couple had been so active in Harrisonville – he with a piano repair and tuning business, and she as an attorney’s secretary for 25 years. That started many more trips to Branson as she recruited family and friends to join her at least twice a year, primarily on holiday weekends. They have been staying at Lilleys’ Landing Resort long before it was Lilleys’-- when it was Rosadaro Resort run by Sam & Rose Hepko. Judy’s husband, Larry, died in 2002, and she retired from her career in education just last year, allowing more opportunity for “girls’ weekends” or even “weeks.”

Margaret’s biggest catch on Lake Taneycomo was a five-pound rainbow caught off the dock at Cooper Creek resort years back as she was trying out a new ultralight rod. “I didn’t have the sense to know what to do with it, but I got it in anyway,” she said.

For years her choice in bait was the red hot salmon eggs. “When you used to get those nasty fish in here – those suckers – we caught so many with worms; we pretty much stick to Power Bait now.”

Still always as stylish and perfectly coiffed as 20 years ago, the grandmother of three and great-grandmother of five delights in her angling adventures – despite two knee replacements and last year a heart attack. “They flew me to Kansas City or I probably wouldn’t have made it,”she said. After treatment, “I said to them, ‘How about my fishing?’ and they said, ‘You do it!’ and I’m going to for as long as I can.”

Judy & Margaret of Harrisonville, Elsa Curd & Hazel Faustlin of Green Valley

[Danoinark]

What a joy that must have been. Great pics and excellent story.

Dano

[Rick F]

Excellent story indeed. I hope I live to see my 90's, look that good in my 90's and still have the ability to throw out a line in my 90's.

[twosets]

Sweet Story Marsha.

Where did she find that guy that was fishing with her?