Margaret Ellen (Harner) Agens, 77, of Equality, Ill., gained her heavenly reward on April 4, 2023, after a long illness. She passed peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family.
Margaret was born Sept. 3, 1945 to Robert and Mildred (Dixon) Harner Sr. at her grandparents’ home in Morgantown. When she was 7, her family moved to the farm in Preston County, where “Life then seemed like a perfect dream” to her. Margaret recorded many of her farm life experiences in her writing, “Fifty Years and Far, Far Away.” She graduated from Bruceton Mills High School in 1963. As class president, she attended class reunions many times. After high school, she moved back to Morgantown to attend West Virginia University, then Morgantown Business College, from which she graduated in 1967. Also, while at WVU, she met a tall, handsome forestry student from Pennsylvania who became her husband on Nov. 21,1964 in Oakland, Md. Following college graduation, Margaret worked at various banking and retail businesses. She also did some work in home-based sales for companies such as Sarah Coventry. In later years, she volunteered at the Equality Christian Center School, where her daughters attended.
Once the children arrived, Margaret dedicated her life to being a homemaker, raising her daughters to be hard workers with a sense of duty and responsibility for their future homes and families. Margaret loved people and loved to talk, but her main love was studying the Bible and being a prayer intercessor for many. When the Holy Spirit would give her a word for someone, she could be found all hours of the day or night penning poems, then typing and delivering them to the intended recipient. In her later years, some of her poetry was published, for which she won awards. Margaret delighted in taking pictures of the people she loved and God’s creations. She enjoyed working in her flower beds, adding to the beauty around her. She was always up for a trip to one of her favorite places, Niagara Falls.
She is survived by her devoted husband of 58 years, Kenneth and her daughters, Dana Hubbel and husband Herb, of Painesville, Ohio; Valerie Wheat and husband Cliff, of Lexington, Ky.; and Heather Demaree and husband Bill, of Franklin, Ind. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Jenna, Sami, Abby, Ethan and Eli and great-grandchildren, Noah, Lily and Andy. A host of nieces and nephews also survive.
Margaret is predeceased by her parents; her sister, Barbara Harner Wotring; brother, Robert Harner Jr.; and one nephew, Phillip Wayne Harner.
Margaret always said her job in Heaven would be handing out the towels to people after they crossed the River Jordan into our Promised Land of Heaven. So, when you cross over, look for Margaret, she’ll be there waiting for you.
The family would like to thank Linda Isom for her unwavering dedication in caring for Margaret and providing respite for Ken over the years.
Visitation for Margaret Ellen Agens will be held at the Presbyterian Church in Equality, Ill., from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, April 8, with funeral services immediately following at 1 p.m. The Rev. Todd Greiner will officiate and burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery in Equality, Ill.
