Margaret Bonnot Winkler

Margaret Winkler, age 60, of Meridian, passed away Monday morning, April 9, 2018 at her residence surrounded by her loving family.

Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M., Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at the First Baptist Church in Meridian. Rev. Colin Errington, James Gilbert, Rev. Richard Creech, and Rev. Phil McClendon will officiate. Visitation will be from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M., Tuesday, April 10, 2018, also at the First Baptist Church.

Margaret Bonnot was born on September 6, 1957 in Ganado, Texas to Charles Joseph and Johnna Margaret Rafferty Bonnot. She married the love of her life, David Winkler on June 19, 1982 in Edna, Texas. They raised 3 children together, teaching them to love the Lord along the way. She loved spending time with her grandchildren, who adored their "MarMar." She also enjoyed watching her Aggies play, fishing with friends, working cattle with her husband, and opening her heart and home to others: never doing anything halfway. The legacy of her love extends past her own children and grandchildren to the children she taught through 10 years of pre-school, 19 years of Kindergarten, and countless hours of children's ministry and Vacation Bible School. Margaret's goal was to serve the Lord in all that she did. She did so by ministering to others through the First Baptist Nursing Home Ministry, Cross Connections, mission trips to Mexico, Peru, Guatemala, and by sharing her faith in Christ and encouraging those around her. Margaret radiated God's love, and that love was contagious. She wanted anyone who didn't know Jesus to find a relationship with him, because she knew that anything less was a wasted life.

Left to cherish Margaret's memories are her beloved husband of 35 years, David Winkler of Meridian; three children, Jonathan Winkler and wife, Melinda, of College Station, Brittany Straach and husband, Tyler, of Longview, Joe Barrett Winkler and wife, Macy, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Caleb Straach, Emilyn Straach, Jonah Straach; her adopted grandbabies, and soon to be baby boy Winkler; parents, Joe and Johnna Bonnot of Lolita; sister, Jayme Bickings and husband, John; brothers, Carlos Bonnot and wife, Wanda, Joey Bonnot and wife, Sharon; mother-in-law, Lora Geraldine Winkler; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her father-in-law, Lawrence Winkler of Albany, Texas.

Memorials in Margaret's name may be made to: First Baptist Church Nursing Home Ministry or First Baptist Church Children's Orphanage Ministry, P. O. Box 467, Meridian, Texas 76665.

Words of comfort and peace can be sent to the family at www.lawsonfuneralhome.net.

Arrangements were made by Lawson Funeral Home, Meridian, Texas 254-435-2792.