Margie Mae (Redford) Herke

Margie Mae (Redford) Herke, 85, departed this life at VNA Charlier Hospice Center on Thursday, March 30, 2006, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born in Vincennes, Ind., on July 24, 1920, to Edward R. Redford and Mary Louise (Burch) Redford. She was one of seven children, herself the second to the oldest. Soon after Margie's birth, the family moved

to Evansville. Life for Margie and her siblings included special times of dancing, music, reading, and involvement in sports. Margie attended Howard Roosa and Caze Schools, as well as Bosse High School [1939?].

Throughout her life, Margie was never a stranger to hard work. In the late 1940s, she worked at the Walgreen's Drug Store on Main Street, where she was a top sales clerk selling drug products and cosmetics. She worked there until the entire block on Main between 3rd and 4th Streets was destroyed by fire in January of 1950.

Margie enrolled in classes at Bramwell's Business College to learn secretarial skills and began working at Liberty Mutual Insurance in the Bob Wright building in 1952. She worked in claims and administration and was later promoted to office supervisor. Margie had wonderful years at Liberty Mutual, where she worked for more than 30 years.

Throughout her life, Margie was a person of great faith and was extremely devoted to her family and to her work. She had a special gift of writing poetry — about everything from nature to the people closest to her to the simplest of "everyday" objects and events that touched her life in a special way. Her poetry remains a unique blessing to all who have experienced it. Her wonderful smile and words of encouragement have brightened the lives of all who have known her.

In addition to her parents, Margie was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Harold Herke, in 1995, two sisters, Ethel Graff and Edra Schmidt; and a brother, Corbett Redford.

She is survived by a son, Robert E. Herke and his wife, Sharon; three granddaughters, Lisa Herke Henn, Katherine Herke Nickel, all of Evansville, and Kimberly Ann Herke Ritchie of Lawrenceville, Ill.; four great-grandsons, John Brandon Ritchie, Blake Ritchie, Robert Ritchie, and David Nickel; two sisters, Alice Obermeier of Evansville and Mary Heath of Allentown, Pa.; and brother, Edward Redford of Evansville.

Services will be noon on Monday, April 3, 2006, at Alexander West Chapel, with entombment at Alexander Memorial Park. Friends may call Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. at Alexander West Chapel.

Memorial contributions may be made to VNA Charlier Hospice Center, P.O. Box 3487, Evansville, IN 47734. Condolences may be made online at www.mem.com. Arrangements by Alexander West Chapel, 2100 West Illinois Street.