Margaret Lindley

Margaret Lucille Long Lindley, the mother of Father Phil Lindley, passed away April 11. She was 91 years old.

Mass was celebrated April 21, St. Peter’s Church, with Father Lindley and Father Mike Wheelahan, pastor, concelebrating.

Margaret Long was born on Sept. 4, 1922, the fifth of six children born on the family farm near Optima to Louis and Josephine Bauer Long. She attended Optima Elementary School and graduated from Guymon High School. After graduation, Long attended Amarillo Secretarial School, procuring a job following graduation, but had to resign, returning to the family farm to work as her oldest brother George enlisted in the Navy when World War II began.

Margaret Long became Margaret Lindley when she married Benson John Lindley on Aug. 2, 1947 at St. Peter’s Church. The couple was married for 61 years until Mr. Lindley’s death on Dec. 1, 1988. Her family said their mother was a blessing, touching the lives of her children, grandchildren and nieces and nephews in many different ways. She was a successful homemaker, loving wife and caring mother. She was blessed with many talents in gardening, cooking, sewing and music. A life-long member of St. Peter’s Church, Mrs. Lindley belonged to various church organizations over her lifetime.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ben; her siblings, Martha Long, Berneice Rogers, George M. Long, Irene Long, and Louis J. Long, Sr.; nephews Pat and Steve Lucas and Jim Long; a great nephew, Daniel Schwartz; and, a great niece, Callie Norman.

Survivors include her seven children, Father Phil Lindley, and Michael Lindley and his wife Linda, all of Amarillo, Kevin Lindley and his wife Saundra of Mission Viejo, Calif., Mary Erker and her husband Stacey of Salina, Kan., Martha McClenny of Salt Lake City, Lawrence Lindley and his wife Sherry of Guymon and Thomas Lindley of Optima; ten grandchildren, Justin Mullins and his wife Lisa, Kyle Lindley and his wife Kala, Josh Lindley, Chris Erker, Michelle Lindley, Megan McClenny, Steven Lindley, Catherine Franklin and her husband Jon, Sarah Lindley and John Lindley; six great-grandchildren, Lynsey, Kalie, Riley, Taylor, Devin and Aubreigh; nieces and nephews, George, Sally, Frances, Louis Jr., Robert, Patricia, Carolyn and Steven; and numerous great nieces and nephews.