Margaret E. Burgess

Margaret Elizabeth (Johnson) Burgess, age 88, of Indianapolis, Indiana passed away on June 1, 2023. Margaret, the eldest of 11 children, was born December 10, 1934 in Russel Springs, Kentucky to Granville Perry Johnson and Mary Frances (Irwin) Johnson. Margaret enjoyed bowling in her younger years, canning fruits and vegetables, and had a passion for quilting. She made quilts for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great great-grandchildren and many friends. Margaret generously made and donated baby quilts to a foster care program at her church for the foster children. Margaret held leadership positions with Eastside Little League for a number of years and even once served as a Girls Scout Leader. Margaret was a revered member of Indianapolis Baptist Tabernacle for more than 30 years where she served as a Sunday School teacher, as a Trustee and participated in the Ladies’ Auxiliary. She served as Church Clerk at previous church affiliations.

Once relocating to Indianapolis at the age of 16, Margaret worked at the historical Virginia Grille where she ultimately met her husband. She was married to Andrew John Burgess until his death on May 14, 1994. She worked a number of jobs throughout her life in an effort to support her family, spending the majority of her working career at MasterFit as a Machine Operator and serving as their Chief Safety

Coordinator. Margaret missed her calling as a nurse, but selflessly served as a Home Health Aide post- retirement well into her 70’s. This was the work she found most rewarding and she made a significant positive impact on a number of her patient’s lives in their final weeks and days.

Margaret is survived by her children, Darlene (Jim) Branham, John Andrew (Kimberly) Burgess, Della Mae Lefevers, and Hazel Elizabeth Burgess, siblings, Betty Lois Brumley, Phillip Dean Johnson, Judy Lane Anderson, Vivian Sue Chumbley, and Gwendola Lawhorn, 18 grandkids, 46 great-grandkids, 17 great great-grandkids and countless others who considered her a mother, grandmother or friend.

Margaret was preceded in death by her father, Granville Perry Johnson, mother, Mary Frances (Irwin) Johnson, husband, Andrew John Burgess, son, Vactor Lemuel (Lem) Burgess, siblings, Catherine Louise Hobbs, Wanda Lee Johnson, Nannie Ruth Bunch, Ronald Gene Johnson, and Delemia Carolyn Johnson, son-in-law, John Lefevers, and two grandsons.

Visitation will be held from 4pm until 8pm, Friday, June 9, 2023, at Flanner Buchanan – Memorial Park (9350 E. Washington St. Indianapolis, IN). Additional visitation will be held from 11am-1pm, Saturday, June 10, 2023. A Funeral Service will be held directly following at 1pm, at Flanner Buchanan – Memorial Park. Burial will follow funeral service at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.flannerbuchanan.com for the Burgess Family.