Funeral Services for Margaret Leu, Age 93 of Thayer, Missouri will be held on Thursday, June 18th, 2026 at The Clary Funeral Home, Thayer, Missouri, beginning at 10:00 AM. Visitation will precede the service, beginning at 9:00 AM. Burial will be in The Thayer Cemetery, Thayer, Missouri.
Margaret Ann (Mitchell) Leu was born June 15, 1932, in Thayer Mo. to Marguerite Ray (Bell) Mitchell and Roscoe Walter Mitchell and departed this life on June 12, 2026, just 3 days short of her 94th birthday. She was first married to Raymond N, Wiggs, of Thayer, in 1949. Into this union 2 children were born, Raymond Lee and James Franklin. She later married George Leu of the Alton area.
Margaret grew up in a large extended family of Mitchells living in many locations throughout her childhood in and around Thayer. She began her working career with the Beck theater in Thayer as a teen and continued this job well into the 1960s, managing the Drive In and Mammoth Spring Movie concessions while her husband operated the projectors. She also held a second job during the daytime with the Puritan Fashions factory for many years. But her focus was raising two half wild boys on a Warm Fork farm 5 miles north of town. She introduced them to swimming and taught them many of the basic survival skills needed for a rural lifestyle. Every small fish, frog, chipmunk or squirrel the boys brought home was treated like a trophy and cooked in the skillet. Raising the boys required a lot of groceries, so a large garden was planted, and seasonal produce consumed throughout the summer or canned for later use. Gardening and canning became a passion she continued until she was no longer physically able. She was an excellent cook, and her family and friends always enjoyed the many dishes and recipes she produced. When time was available, she enjoyed visiting with neighbors and friends. This often included card games with Fred and Gladys Shoemaker and camping or field trips with the Gene Blakenship family. Educational family vacations to western states and National Parks were dovetailed with visits to family and old school friends no longer living near Thayer. After the boys were grown and her marriage to George Leu, she became a farmer and rancher raising beef cattle and hogs and always enjoying the rural lifestyle. Margaret and George took many bus tours and other travels throughout the 1980s, going as far as Alaska on one occasion. She was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church and attended services and functions as long as she could.
She was preceded in death by her parents Marguerite Ray (Bell) and Roscoe W. Mitchell, 2 infant sisters, Indie and Betty Jo, 2 older sisters, Dorothy Bell (Mitchell) Couch, Mary Sue (Mitchell) Robinson, a brother Roscoe Jr. Mitchell, her husband George Leu and one stepdaughter Aneata (Leu) Alderson. She is survived by her two sons Raymond Lee and James Franklin Wiggs, one stepdaughter Alvera (Leu) Loyd, 6 Grandchildren, 10 Great grandchildren, 5 Great Great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
