Margaret C. Forney

Margaret C. Forney, 91, of New Oxford, formerly of Silver Spring, MD and Amesbury, MA, died Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at The Brethren Home Community.

Born on Monday, October 12, 1931 in Hanover, she was the daughter of the late Roy O. and Mary Hostetter Coulson. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Merle G. Forney, who died on August 13, 2022. A 1949 graduate of Eichelberger High School, she had been employed by Swan Electric Company in Hanover and later by the Arbitron TV Ratings Company in Beltsville, MD. She was active in church and community work, taught Sunday School, led church Summer Day Camps and Girl Scout and Cub Scout troops, and was active with Kids as Peacemakers and many other organizations.

A member of Emmanuel United Church of Christ in Hanover, she was a former member of the Hanover Mennonite Church, Celebration House Church and the Columbia United Church in MD, and Central Congregational Church in Newburyport MA. Margaret radiated love and kindness. She will be long remembered for being a generous and loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and aunt. She loved music, swimming, painting, crafts, sewing, gardening and cooking. She was famous for her sand tart cookies and the banana breads she baked for newcomers at her church in Newburyport, MA. Margaret made a lasting impression on everyone she met.

Survivors include three children, Carol E. Forney and her companion, Jim Smethurst, of Deerfield, MA, Julie Forney Menin of Newburyport, MA and Christopher J. Forney and his wife, Meaghan Parker, of Silver Spring, MD; three grandchildren, Linnea, Noah and Corrina; and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, June 10, 2023 at the chapel at Mount Olivet Cemetery with The Rev. Howard Miller officiating. A second memorial service will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, September 23, 2023 at Central Congregational Church, 14 Titcomb Street, Newburyport, MA 01950 with Reverend Chris Nye officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Koinonia Farm by visiting https://www.koinoniafarm.org