Pawnee Rock - Margaret Cooper Blackwood, 81, of Benton, AR, died Tuesday, March 11, 2014. She was born June 22, 1932, in Larned, KS, to the late Durward F. and Gladys Holopirek Cooper. Her family moved to Jonesborow, AR, when she was 14. She attended Mississippi College for Women (the "W") for one year before transferring and graduating from Arkansas State College where she was a member and president of Alpha Gamma Delta. She married the late Thomas W. Blackwood on August 30, 1953, and moved to Benton, AR in 1964. She was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church of Benton, and a longtime member of P.E.O.

Margaret is survived by her children, Cheryl Bryant (Royce), and Thomas W. Blackwood, Jr. (Cathy), 4 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. She will be remembered as a loving wife, amazing mother, and trusted friend who lived her Christian faith. She had a passion and true talent for painting in oils, watercolors and pastels. Margaret made our lives better through her kindness. This legacy of love is what she leaves to all of us.

The funeral service will be held March 17, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. at the Beckwith Mortuary Chapel, Larned, KS with Robert Sallee presiding.  Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 am. Monday at the Mortuary.  Burial will be in the Pawnee Rock Cemetery, Pawnee Rock, KS. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to the First United Methodist Church, 200 N. Market St, Benton, AR, 72015. Personal condolences may be left for the family at www.beckwithmortuary.com .