Margaret Ann Van Buren

RALEIGH – Margaret Ann Van Buren, 88, went home to the Lord on March 1, 2024. A native of Wake County, North Carolina, she was the daughter of the late John William Myers, Sr., and Narosa Claire Myers.

In addition to her parents, Margaret is preceded in death by her husband, William Van Buren; son, Frank Gower, Jr.; and grandsons, Tyler Gower and Christopher "Chris" Walker, all of whom Margaret loved very dearly.

Margaret was born in Raleigh on October 15, 1935. She grew up with her 6 siblings in Garner. After graduating from Garner High School, she attended Wyatts Nursing School in 1954 and became a nurse for Rex Hospital. She married Frank Gower and had 2 children: Frank Jr. and Patricia (Pat). Frank was killed in a car accident in 1966. She later married Ray Craig and had a daughter: Vivian. She worked as a night Supervisor at Mayview Convalescent Center for many years, then Rex Convalescent Center. Geriatric care was her passion. At the same time, she was a consultant for Mary Kay cosmetics and established lifelong relationships through making woman feel beautiful. Later in life, she felt a calling for missions. She went to Maine to help start a church and there she met her husband of 20 years, William (Bill) Van Buren. She and Bill helped raise his 6 grandchildren while serving the church and traveling for the Lord. Bill went to be with the Lord in 2017. Margaret moved back to Raleigh at that time to be closer to family. Margaret was a strong woman of faith and positive beliefs which held her steadfast during her 9-year battle with metastatic breast cancer. She lived with and helped care for her cousin Gail Fox with Gail’s husband Bill whom she held both extremely near to her heart.

She is now pain free and safe in the arms of her Lord.

Margaret is survived by her daughters Patricia Walker of Raleigh with granddaughter Jennifer McCann of Wilson, NC; and Vivian Kelly of Lake Geneva, WI with grandson Liam Kelly of New Jersey – currently deployed for the Air Force to Honduras. Her son Frank Jr. preceded her in 2023, and is survived by granddaughter Natalie Gower. She has 2 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by her Van Buren grandchildren: Joseph (Joe) McNally, Jr. and wife Karen, Benjamin (Ben) McNally and wife Vanessa, Hannah McNally, Sara Joy McNally, Jeremiah McNally and wife Abigail, and Judah McNally. She also has 5 great grandchildren. She is survived by her sisters: Joyce Albin of Colorado Springs, CO and Janice Lott of Garner, NC and many nieces and nephews. Her 4 brothers have preceded her.

A graveside service will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, March 8, 2024, at Montlawn Memorial Park, 2911 S Wilmington St, Raleigh, NC 27603.

Condolences may be made to the family at www.bryan-leefuneralhome.com