Margaret Counts

Margaret Counts died at home on May 5, 2015. She was born March 4, 1918 on a farm near Hasty, Colorado to Wilma (Crossan) & Wilson Counts. Margaret was the second child of four daughters and started school at Coal Creek public school near Vinland, Kansas. She graduated from Baldwin High School in 1936 and enjoyed being in the first wood working shop that girls could take. Margaret attended Baker University and enjoyed being a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority and was the badminton champion her sophomore year. She left Baker University in 1940 to attend St. Luke's Nursing School in Kansas City. She then returned to Baldwin City and became a sales clerk for Harry Barnett, and served on the Ration Board helping to administer ration coupons for Baldwin City during WW II. Like many patrotic women, she became a Hostess for the returning airmen at the Olathe Naval Air Base, while working as a chemist at the Sunflower Ammunition Plant. She subsequently began her long professional career of about 40 years and worked as a technician and dental assistant for Dr. Stanley Flickinger, Dr. J B Flickinger and Dr. J A Emerson. She was the treasurer for two years of the Kansas Dental Assistants and became a life member. While she worked she also assisted her parents at the Counts Farm with their cattle and farming business. She married J W Taul November 1938; they later divorced in 1955. She also enjoyed doing lapidary work with her father. After her parents moved to town, she moved to the Counts Farm. She enjoyed being a member of various groups and organizations such as: The First United Methodist Church, Baldwin City Library, Farm Bureau, Professional Women, Campfire Girls, Hostess at Olathe Naval Air Base, Baldwin High School Alumni, Ottawa Co-Op, Wellsville Fit and Fun, Committee member for Wilma & Wilson Counts Scholarship Fund at Baker University, Santa Fe Historical Society and Senior Volleyball Team. After Margaret retired she enjoyed traveling in the US and abroad, seeing new places, eating new food, and making new acquaintances. Margaret took great pleasure spending time with her friends and family. She hosted her cousins' reunions, sisters' reunions and numerous happy gatherings around the dinner table in her home. As an accomplished cook she enjoyed baking for charitable events such as: pies for the American Legion for the Maple Leaf Festival and her creative donations for the Baker University Chocolate Auction. Margaret is survived by her sister, Maryann Arndt of Bellingham, WA; 5 nieces, and numerous other relatives. Margaret will be remembered by her friends and family for many attributes, particularly her cheerfulness, generosity, and joy of living each and every day. A celebration of her life will be announced at a later date. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Margaret Counts please visit our Sympathy Store.

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