Margaret Ibele

Margaret Ibele ( LeBlanc),Ryan passed away Nov 28,2011 at Life Care Center in Port Orchard . She was a long time resident of Belfair and lived in Lynch Cove. Born in Stutgart, Arkansas Nov 15,1918, she came from a Catholic family, in fact the first church in Stuttgart masses where held in the Ryan home Dec 27,1887 that lasted for about 10 yrs until Holy Rosary Church was build in 1897. Thinking back to how things must have been in the early 1900's thru today, a much simpler time with out all the technology. Mom was once a Western Union operator Tap,Tap,Tap in fact communications became her passion for meeting people and talking to them. She loved to visit new places , like restruants ,parks and would drive the famous "loop" to visit places like Squim,Forks,Port Angles etc.with a stop at a new eatery and a glass of wine ! That was something Special to her. And it served her well later on as she became involved with Theler Center as a Volunteer with the Visitors Information Center in Belfair. She could tell people where to go and from first hand experience about good eating places.  At 81, she survived cancer not once but three times.  Her first bout was in 1988. Then having her husband of 12 years pass away of lung cancer in 1983, she again faced cancer in 1994.  Early detection and treatment cured her. She then became involved in the North Mason Relay for Life after 1994 and was awarded the Survivor Award.  As she put it, "I was Just Lucky".  She would tell others about early detection and treatment so they too could become "lucky".  Margaret is surivied by her sister Agnes Wilson of Stuttgart, Ark., Paul S. LeBlanc and wife Margie of Onalaska,Tx., James E LeBlanc and wife Joanna of Belfair, Wash., Charles Ibele and wife Beckie of N.C., 8 grandchildern &14 great grandchildern, many friends and neighbors and families including the Denend, Jesfield & Prince families.