Margaret A. Musselman, 91, of Wooster died Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at Brookdale Assisted Living.
Graveside services will be held on Saturday, July 1, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Apple Creek Cemetery, followed by a celebration of life at Mayer Carson Hall, Village Park, Apple Creek.
She was born on July 20, 1931 in Paint Valley, Holmes County, Ohio to Leslie Dale and Lula Harrison Middleton before settling in Toledo, OH in 1935. Her family then moved to Wooster in 1942 while Leslie joined the war effort overseas where he died when Margaret was only 12.
Growing up on the east side of Toledo then later moving to Loudonville, OH where her mother married local poultry farmer, Solly Priest, Margaret fell in love with country music as she listened to the radio while cleaning and grading eggs. Her lifelong interest in songwriting began as well as befriending then young up-and-coming performers who valued her input and critique of their song lyrics. George Morgan, Hillous Butrum of Hank Williams Drifting Cowboys, then later years many others taught Margaret about the music industry from an insider’s perspective. Margaret attended songwriting seminar NSAI in Nashville, TN in 1982 and by the late 80s had professional demos made of her songs with “Little Billy’s Suitcase” recorded by Holly Rose Garret being Margaret’s first song made into a 45 rpm record and charting in the Bubbling Under category of Billboard Magazine’s song charts. Margaret always said her goals were attained by the excitement and fun of pursuing her dream and all the great friends she made along the way.
Margaret loved the Cleveland Indians and sometimes wrote letters offering suggestions to the managers always getting responses. Her love of gardening was lifelong as well as sewing and writing guest columns to The Daily Record, Now and Then magazine and winning a Mother’s Day cover story in The Akron Beacon Journal. Margaret cherished her early years when she worked at Buckeye Aluminum where she met her future husband, then fresh out of the U.S. Army, Stanley “Skip” Musselman.
Surviving are children Kathryn Lawson of Akron, Tim Musselman of Canton, Marla Musselman of Wooster; grandchildren Matt and Jordan Musselman, Brittany and Aleata Meyer, Raven and Tiara Schaffter; 10 great grandchildren; sister Bev Fliger of Bellville; brother Leslie Middleton of TX. Preceded in death were husband Stanley Musselman, son Dana Musselman, brothers Earl, Don and Gerald Middleton and a sister Shirley Morris.
The family of Margaret Musselman would like to express gratitude to all the caregivers who had worked with her over the years.
McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster is assisting the family.
Contributions may be directed to Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare, 1900 Akron Rd., Wooster, OH 44691 or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mcintirebradhamsleek.com
So sorry to see Marge go. She and I had some good times over the years.