Trending
GARDEN -- Margaret Ann Leckson, 89, lifelong resident of Garden, MI with 3 years in Manistique, MI and simply days in Newberry, MI was swept away by the angels into the kingdom of God on October 17, 2026.
Margaret was born on December 18, 1936, into a hard life of working and raising children on beef cattle and dairy farms most of her young/adult life. The work was tiring, days were long, her heart was lost, the choices were not hers.
1 Peter 4:10 "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace"
In her forties through fifties, she bought her own house, a car, and began work at a bar and restaurant, Rosie's Place, in Garden MI. She discovered freedom to make her own choices and a deep fulfillment in serving people. People in the community and visitors found great enjoyment in her caring for them through her waitressing, taking time to listen, and most importantly through her fantastic abilities to prepare tasty and beautiful food dishes. She also worked for Sherry's Port Bar in Fayette MI and Tylene's in Garden Corners MI. Long hours did not discourage, covering sometimes 2 shifts a day. Her greatest accomplishment was Sherry going on vacation and putting her in charge of running the Port Bar. She ran it with the fierceness, the integrity, and the love of the person who owned it. The ordering, the monies balancing to the penny, creating and serving the food, keeping the place clean and the troublemakers in line... when Sherry returned, she praised Margie's business abilities and said many great things about her. Margie found her calling. The hours were incredibly rewarding and became her purpose well into her early eighties.
Throughout all the daily work and the regular meals at home, she loved picking and canning, veggies from her two-acre garden, apples, pears, raspberries, and blackberries. Margie was so giving with her talents by sharing the most wonderful homemade pies, fresh bread, cookies of all types, seven-layer bars, apple strudel, and homemade cinnamon rolls.
Everyone will remember Margie's favorite indulgence: scratching off lottery tickets! She derived a deep sense of enjoyment in this activity and we will miss those 5:30am phone calls with the big winners! A HUGE thank you to her son-in-law, Don Lemaster, you will never know the depth of our appreciation and how much you are cherished for keeping her active with a fresh batch of tickets every day and for making sure Mom was doing well and her needs were met. You are a godsend!
Margaret is survived by her: Children, Sheila (Eric) LaRoue of Newberry MI, Wanda (Donald) Lemaster of Manistique MI, Joan Bernard of Ypsilanti MI, Jennifer (Kenneth) Johnson of Marquette MI, and Carl Bernard of Escanaba MI; Grandchildren, Kyle (Cherokee), Matthew (Emily), Mark (Linnea), Nicholas (Briana), Anthony (Dan), Samuel (Taylor), Lauranna (Angel), Alex (Geena), Kennan, Erik, Amber (Edward), and Eric (Kimberly); Great Grandchildren, Lauren, Nicco, Sophia, Caroline, Clint, and Emilia; Brothers, Michael (Bertha), Robert (Tana), and George (Joyce) Leckson, all of Garden MI; Sisters, Antoinette (John) Francis of Mountain WI, Katherine (Joel) Groleau of Rapid River MI, and Mary (Rick) Swidergal of DePere WI. She also leaves behind many cherished nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Anton and Anna (Rokosky) Leckson; Brothers, baby Anton Leckson Jr and Bernard Leckson; Sisters, Rosalie (Eugene Groll/Fred Arnold) and Lucille (Edmund) Robere.
The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude for the amazing care and love provided by the Newberry Assisted Living Community, Newberry MI. Your service is truly a gift that carried us through the roughest two weeks of our lives.
Visitation and mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St John the Baptist Catholic Church in Garden MI, on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 10:00 AM until time of funeral mass at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow the mass at the New Garden Cemetery.
Just 2 months shy of her 90th birthday, Margie's last days were filled with a profound sadness that she would not be here for her birthday party. On her birthday, please find a moment to scratch off a lottery ticket in celebration, with the winners... Memorials can be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Margaret's memory.
Fausett Family Funeral Homes is assisting family with arrangements and services.