Mary Margaret Howard Weltmer Fox died November 13, 2009 at the Central Kansas Medical Center, Great Bend, Kansas, of congestive heart failure following a long illness. She was born May 16, 1919, at St. John, Kansas. The daughter of Fred W. Howard and Eula Tishe King of Kentucky. Her father was a pharmacist whose drug store remained a favorite landmark long after his death. Her mother was a graduate of the Business College of Hutchinson, Kansas, and member of many civic organizations. Her older half-sister Dorothy preceded her in death. Mary Margaret grew up in St. John and graduated St. John High School in 1937. She met her future husband, Donald A. Weltmer Jr, at an impromptu gathering at a friends home before a Jimmy Dorsey concert. They fell in love and were married on February 3, 1939 . The young Mrs. Weltmer went from her life as a girl living with her parents to the home she made with her husband Don, a young executive. She became a poised and elegant homemaker. Mary Margaret was a gourmet cook. The young couple were popular figures in the social scene. Their only son, Kent Howard Weltmer, was born August 14, 1947. They all lived happily together until Dons death on September 27, 1961. Don was mayor of Great Bend and distributor of the Dr. Pepper bottling company. Mary Margaret was active in P.E.O., Bloomer Girls Sewing Club, and other organizations following her mothers example. She was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ since 1939. She was an accomplished painter (oil and water color) and painted throughout the years, studying with Steve Dudek and various notable artists whenever possible. Mary Margaret was a petite woman whose size 3B foot Cinderella herself might envy. Her diminutive stature belied her indomitable spirit. After her husbands Don death she combined her knowledge and love of antiques and opened Marys Gingerbread House Antique and Art Shop and continued doing appraisals and auction work for many years. Yet another chapter of her life began when she married Lowell E. Fox on February 22, 1969. They traveled extensively around the world enjoying their exploration of art and music. Lowell E. Fox, gentleman farmer and partner of Sun Oil Cementing Service died in April, 1999. Mary Margaret is survived by her son, Kent and fiance Maureen, Kents children Stacey Elisabeth, a geologist of Houston, Texas, and Britton Howard, a court reporter of Decatur, Georgia, as well as Lowells daughter Carmen and her children: Craig and Terri of California, Tonia of Washington, and Steven of Boston, and eight great-grandchildren and her many, many friends. Services will be held Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. at Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend , with the Reverend William F. Johnson presiding. Interment will be at Fairview Park Cemetery, St. John Kansas. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday, November 16, 2009, with family to receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. all at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Barton County Arts Council in care of Bryant Funeral Home, 1425 Patton Road, Great Bend, KS 67530.