Margie Metz
October 3, 1942 ~ January 26, 2022
Born in:
Texarkana, AR
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Margie Kay Reed Metz, 79, passed away Wednesday, January 26, 2022.
Mrs. Metz was born in Texarkana, Arkansas to the late David Manning Reed and Annie Jim Lester Reed. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Edward Wayne Metz and her brother, James Reed. She is survived by her two children; Edward Metz (Brandee) and Elizabeth Saenger (Matthew); a sister, Francie Davies and four grandchildren, Alex and Madison Saenger and Jackson and Davis Metz. She passed away peacefully in her own home surrounded by her son and daughter.
Although Margie has left us too soon, we are grateful for the 25 extra years we were able to spend with her after she was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 54. Thank you to the medical professionals at Duke Medicine, MD Anderson, and especially Dr. Messino and his staff at Messino Cancer Centers for taking such good care of her all these years.
Margie was a beautiful woman inside and out. She excelled at everything she did with a unique grace and style. Margie was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother. But, her legacy extends well beyond her family through the many, many bonds of friendship that she maintained her whole life. She always had a smile on her face and loved to laugh. People have remarked how they always felt better after they talked with her. She had a kind heart, generous spirit and a wonderful sense of humor! Although you could say she was a traditional housewife, she was very much her own woman with her own businesses, volunteer work, travel, hobbies, and other interests.
Margie was raised in Long Beach amongst a large extended family that had moved out from Texarkana, AR during WWII. She modeled and was active in beauty pageants as well as a medical professional after attending Long Beach City College. She married Edward Wayne Metz- a budding businessman living in San Francisco- in 1967 after a whirlwind six-month courtship.
Son Edward was born in 1969 and daughter Elizabeth came two years later. Margie and Ed bought a lovely home in Mill Valley and were happy living their dream life in the Bay Area. Ed was moving up the company ladder and the company wanted him in Chicago- which incidentally was where Ed was born and raised. The California girl departed the Sunshine State for the Windy City and then not even a year later the whole family moved to Toledo, OH where Ed’s company was headquartered. She made the best of it and created a happy home for the family in Ohio. As she always did, she made lifelong friends and brought a smile to the face of everyone she met.
While Ed traveled for work, Margie anchored the family at home and made sure the kids got to their hockey games and swim practices. Margie and Ed both came from humble beginnings and even after they achieved some success they lived modestly and never forgot their roots. Margie always made sure that family vacations were not boring. She always planned side visits and interesting things to do along the way. Annual trips to Hilton Head when her children were young would later grow into include sons and daughters-in-law and grandkids. It was a special place that she kept visiting- even in the last year of her life..
In 1984, the family moved to beautiful Asheville, NC for Ed’s job with a new company. Margie uncovered an opportunity through new friends to purchase a long-standing local business, Westall Lumber Company. For the next twenty years, Ed ran and grew the company until he and his partners sold it in 2006. After Ed retired, she cherished their daily routine of morning coffee and crossword puzzles by the fire that Ed would dutifully build each morning.
She remained a California girl whole life and came back again and again, even after she moved away, to visit family and renew the friendships she maintained her whole life. Margie loved to travel and she and Ed traveled the world. She would also often travel with her sister Francie who remained her best friend her whole life. Even after her diagnosis and cancer treatments she didn’t stop. Life was meant to be lived and Margie lived it. Even after Ed passed away in 2013, Margie continued to plan trips and events with her children and grandchildren. GG as her grandchildren called her always went above and beyond for her family even as her health declined. She never wanted to be a burden and always wanted her friends and family to be happy.
Mrs. Metz will be interred in the place she always loved, California. A funeral service will be held at Westminster Memorial Park 14801 Beach Blvd, Westminster, CA 92683 on February 11 at 1:30 PM. A Celebration of Life event will be held March 5th in Asheville, NC.
In lieu of flowers, we ask that a donation be made to CancerCare.org to assist cancer patients with the challenges of dealing with this insidious disease.
https://www.cancercare.org/donate-now
Services
Funeral Home Assisting The Family:
Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian
72 Long Shoals Road
Arden, NC 28704
(828)687-3530
http://www.grocefuneralhome.com
Margie and I were friends for over 40 years. Her bright smile, physical beauty and open heart
endeared her to everyone. What a sense of humor! She found something to admire and appreciate
wherever she went. All were drawn to her sense of enjoyment in life. She also was a savvy business
woman, wise and confident. Margie, dear friend, we shall play together later!
Our sincerest sympathies to all the Metz family. Though we had lost touch over the years, we remember Margie and Ed fondly.
Blessings,
Pat and Malcolm
My sincere sympathies to the Metz family. She was a wonderful for many years.
Jeanne Becnel
My most sincere condolences to the Metz family 🙏
All my love to the entire Metz family. I remember all the wonderful moments at their home in Biltmore forest. The home was always so warm and loving and Margie always was cooking and welcoming everyone. She adored her family and was stunning inside and out. All my love, Meredith Allen Goodlatte
Margie sure was a beautiful woman inside and out and strong fighter. Sending love and prayers to you all during this difficult time.
Margie’s light was as bright as the light of this candle.
Margie had a hilarious sense of humor. She always had a funny story to share.
Beautiful inside and out, Margie personified everything positive. A very private woman was our Margie, I will miss her as I have for the past two years.
Cool Ed, so sorry and sad to learn of your Mom’s passing. Press on and take care.
I met Margie in 1968 when Tom and I moved to California from New Jersey. Tom had just accepted a sales position with Owens Illinois and Ed was his first boss after college graduation and our recent marriage. I feel like we grew into adulthood together.
Margie and I were both Libras, a year apart in age; and, our birthdays just a day apart in October. Its been a 54 year friendship.
We followed the Metz family to Toledo, Ohio and continued our personal friendship there. After living in sunny California, we all considered our stint in Toledo’s cold, dreary, sunless weather our missionary work for OI. But, we had fun playing tennis, sharing dinner parties and traveling together to business events. Even when our husband’s careers parted after 11 years at OI headquarters we remained in touch.
And, when we eventually moved to Wilmington, NC for business the Metz family visited us at the beach and we visited them in the Ashville mountains. We eventually retired to Florida; but still visited with Margie, on a couple of trips back to North Carolina. And even after my Tom passed, we always reconnected at least twice a year, at Christmas and for our October birthdays.
The beautifully worded obituary and gorgrous photo truly depicted the Margie that we knew and loved. And, she inspired us with her courage and grace in facing her cancer diagnosis and still continuing to move forward with her active life. We will all miss you Margie. Rest in peace.
My sincere condolences and prayers for Ed, Brandee, Elizabeth, Matthew and GG’s four loving grandchildren.
Fondly, Debbie