Margaret E. Hickerson, 93, Avon, died at The Elms in Macomb on April 19, 2025, after a brief illness. She had resided at Hawthorne Inn in Galesburg for the past two years. She was born at home in Streator, Illinois, on July 27, 1931, to Charles E. and Lucile A. Hollister A’Hearn Wilson. They moved to the family farm south of Avon when she was two. This is where she spent her early years. During this time, she had fond memories of taking water jugs with a pony and cart to men working in the fields at haying time. She graduated from Hatch Grade School, south of Avon, where she sometimes rode a pony to school. She graduated from Avon High School in 1949 and from Carl Sandburg College with a nursing degree in 1974.
On June 5, 1949, she married Maurice J. Hickerson at the Avon Federated Church, where she was a member. They celebrated 73 years of marriage in 2022. They are the parents of five daughters: Rosemarie (Jeff) Elam, Macomb; Valerie (Phil) Lawson, St. Augustine; Pamela Swartz (deceased); Maurissa (Pete) Watson, Tyler, Texas; and Angela Hickerson (Mary Hillebrand), Madison, Wisconsin. Survivors include a brother, Eugene (Doris) Wilson, Oneida, nine grandchildren: John (Leigh) Russell; Erica (Al) Blair; Sean Elam (Greg Peterson); Tim Lawson; Tom (Alexis Maldonado) Lawson; Ashley (Shane) Bradberry; Arielle Sloan; Lucy Hillebrand; and Ben Hillebrand. She also had seven great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death were her husband, Maurice; her parents; a half-brother, Lawrence A’Hearn; a daughter, Pamela Swartz; and a son-in-law, Pete Watson.
In her early work experience, Margaret was employed locally at the Blue Bell Factory in Abingdon; the Abingdon Federal Savings and Loan; Neff Company during inventory time; and Roy’s Greenhouse during spring sales. While she and Maurice were stationed in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and in Alaska, Margaret was employed by the Army and Air Force Exchange Service. After returning to the Avon area and earning her nursing degree, she worked as an RN at Saunders Hospital and the Avon Nursing Home, retiring in 1989.
For 10 years after retiring, Margaret and Maurice worked for the John Babcock Orchard (now Camp’s), west of Avon, pruning trees and picking apples.
Always an outdoor person, Margaret enjoyed birding, fishing in Wisconsin, and hunting. For 25 years she took part in the May Illinois bird count, as well as the Christmas bird count. She and Maurice maintained a bluebird trail in Fulton and Warren counties. She participated in the Ragbrai bike ride across Iowa and also took up running in her 50s, participating in road races around central Illinois over the next decade. She worked for many years for Volunteer Vacationers, building new hiking trails and maintaining existing trails in several states. Margaret planted and tended flower barrels on Avon’s Main Street. Her indoor hobbies included quilting, knitting, reading, and genealogy research.
As a member of the Avon Federated Church since 1945, she participated in the choir since her teen years, served on its board, and participated in its women’s groups. She served as a member of the Western Illinois Library System. She was a board member and later president of the Avon Public Library from 1975 to 2017. She served as a board member of the American Red Cross chapter bloodmobile services in Galesburg and as a coordinator of the Red Cross and Mississippi Valley blood donor visits in Avon. Margaret was a charter member, secretary, and president of the Avon Historical Society. She also served as a member of the Avon Cemetery Board. She kept detailed records of all known burials, compiling a list of more than 3,000 names, recording birth and death dates, as well as identifying veterans and burial locations. She wrote for the Avon Sentinel newspaper for several years, including the 100th anniversary edition. She operated the scoreboard for Avon High School girls’ volleyball games and helped with junior high, high school, college, and state track meets.
A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at the Avon Federated Church. Family and friends will be received starting at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorial donations to the Avon Federated Church or the Avon Public Library.
Moore Memorial Home, Avon, is handling the arrangements.
