Margaret Browning Huey

Margaret Browning Huey

Phoenix, Ariz.

After much love and care Margaret Browning Huey passed away peacefully on Friday, March 17, 2023, at the age of 98. She was born March 12, 1925, in Anamosa, Iowa, and was the daughter of Mary Underwood Remley and Earl Staten Browning. On Aug. 11, 1945, she married John Robert Huey, M.D., in Iowa City, Iowa.

Margaret grew up in Iowa City, graduating from Iowa City High School in

1942. She earned her B.A. degree in 1946 from the University of Iowa, becoming a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Theta Sigma Phi, honorary journalism society for women. She was editor of the 1946 Hawkeye, the University yearbook and president of Mortar Board. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.

Margaret lived in Cedar Rapids for 36 years, having moved there when her husband opened his office for the practice of orthopedic surgery in 1952. Dr. John Huey preceded her in death in 2003.

She was a member of the Junior League of Cedar Rapids, a docent for the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art and active in the Dieman-Bennett Dance Theatre of the Hemispheres, serving many years on its board of directors. She has been on the city-wide PTA Council, president of Chapter II of the PEO Sisterhood and a member of the National Advisory Council for Cornell College. She was also active in political and charitable fundraising.

In 1988, John and Margaret moved to Rio Verde, Ariz., where they made their winter home. Summers were spent at Lake Okoboji, where they had a cottage for 50 years on Des Moines Beach. In Okoboji Margaret was active in the Okoboji Yacht Club, serving a year as social director, while Dr. Huey was Commodore. In Rio Verde she had been president of the Niner Ladies golf group and served a three-year term on the Rio Verde Community Relations Committee. In 2014 Margaret became a fulltime resident of Arizona when she moved from Rio Verde to the Sagewood senior living community in Phoenix.

Margaret Huey is survived by four children, Rita Cook of Denver, Colo., John Huey Jr. (Patti) of Cedar Rapids, Lisa Huey of Phoenix, Ariz., (formerly of Minneapolis, Minn.), and Marilyn Lortz (Mike) of Edmond, OK. She leaves six grandchildren, Brandon Huey (Joy), Sarah Anderson (Jeff Shultz), Allison Layne Huey (Chris Goehring), Michael Lortz (Hannah), Barrett Lortz (Julie) and Braeden Lortz (Charlotte). She is also survived by 11 great-grandchildren, Madison Hoffman, John R. Anderson, Rosemary Anderson, Reid Anderson, Jonah Shultz, Oliver Goehring, Alice Goehring, Hazel Lortz, Ruby Lortz, Porter Lortz and Pierson Lortz.

A brother, Earl Staten Browning Jr. of Charlottesville, Va., and three sisters, Marilyn McCollister of Omaha, Neb., Beth James of Cedar Rapids and Eleanor Sully Guess of Casper, Wyo., preceded her in death.

Margaret took great pride in everything she did. There was no such thing as a half-hearted effort, and she expected nothing less from each of us. She placed the highest priority on education and reminded us that going to school was like walking into a gold mine with empty pockets – it was up to us how full we chose to fill them.

There will be a private funeral service for the immediate family, with cremation. The family suggests that memorials may be made to Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra, 205 Second Ave., SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401; Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, 410 Third Ave., SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401; Lakes Art Center, 2201 Highway 71, Okoboji, IA 51355; the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, 455 N. Third St., Phoenix, AZ 85004; or the charity of your choice.

Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.messingermortuary.com.