Margaret Ruth Croy Obituary: 1942-2026

A Life Measured in Laughter, Real Estate, and Countless Animals

When Margaret Ruth Croy passed away at the age of 84 on October 5, 2026, she left behind an Oklahoma community that knew her as a woman of formidable talents and unshakeable opinions. According to an obituary published on Legacy.com by Barnes-Friederich & Pope Funeral Home – Del City, her life stretched across eight decades of relentless civic involvement, creative enterprise, and an extraordinary capacity for welcoming strays of every variety into her heart and home.

Born in Durant, Oklahoma, on March 10, 1942, to Jack and Dessie Stone, Margaret grew up alongside her younger sister, Lou. Her early adult years brought both deep joys and profound sorrows. Following her marriage to Michael Phelps in 1959, she gave birth to five children: David, Darryl, Stephen, Danella, and Rai. The early loss of Stephen and Danella remained a quiet, enduring thread throughout her life’s story, shaping her deep empathy for those who found themselves in need of care.

An Impressive Array of Careers and Public Service

Margaret approached the working world with an energy that defied simple categorization. Over the decades, legacy.com reported that her resume spanned work inside a radio studio, dental assisting, real estate management, and ultimately becoming a real estate broker. Her creative eye found an outlet in event planning and decorating, a field she dedicated more than 25 years to, alongside a knack for sewing that allowed her to turn raw fabric into something beautiful.

Her professional life also included managing operations for a company providing photography services in Walmart stores, where her duties ranged from photo logistics to coordinating the placement of greeters at entrances across Oklahoma. Yet, one of her proudest roles was serving as an election precinct official in Oklahoma County, a civic duty she maintained well into her eighties.

A Household Defined by Family and Menagerie

Following her marriage to Jim Croy on May 1, 1998, in Oklahoma City, Margaret built a 28-year partnership grounded in family, friendship, and an extraordinary menagerie. Beginning with Apollo, their first Doberman Pinscher, Margaret and Jim shared their property with at least 40 dogs, roughly 10 cats, 50 guinea hens, more than 30 chickens, numerous ducks, and a few turkeys. Alongside her daughter Rai, Margaret and Jim poured considerable time into caring for dogs in need of stable homes.

Her circle expanded just as easily through human bonds. Misti Flowers and Sarah Kelley adopted Margaret as their mother, spending a combined total of nearly sixty years sharing a profound maternal bond with her. She leaves behind her sister, Lou; her nephews, Mark and Phil; her children, David, Darryl, and Rai; her husband, Jim; her stepson, Zac; along with her granddaughters Sierra, Morgan, and Brianna, and step-grandchildren Izzy and Elliott.

Honoring Margaret Croy in Midwest City

Family and friends will come together to commemorate her extraordinary impact at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church located in Midwest City, Oklahoma. True to her vibrant spirit, the family has requested that attendees skip the traditional dark suits and ties in favor of a genuine celebration filled with shared memories, laughter, and stories of a woman who made an indelible mark on everyone she met.