Louise McGonagill, 97, died Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, at her home in Oxford. The funeral service will be held Saturday, March 4, 2017, in the Chapel of Waller Funeral Home with the Rev. David Ard officiating. A private family burial will follow in Oxford Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9- 11 a.m. prior to the service in West Hall at the funeral home.

Mrs. McGonagill was a lifelong resident of Lafayette County tracing her descendants here for six generations since 1836. She was born March 17, 1919 to William Pleasant and Zula Patterson Goolsby as their tenth and last child.

She attended Oxford city schools, graduating from University High School in 1937. In January of 1939, she married her sweetheart Charles whom she loved and supported through sixty-four years of marriage. They had the shared experiences of rearing three children and living through the difficult times of the Depression and WWII. She was her husband’s helpmate as he worked as a public servant in the office of Lafayette County Supervisor for twenty years. Her favorite things to do were traveling, vegetable and flower gardening, and taking care of her family. Her heart was always open to helping others in any way needed and to caring for and training animals.

Along with her family, she joined North Oxford Baptist Church in 1952, remaining a member there until her death. Until recently she had been an active member of the Ruth Sunday school Class. She truly enjoyed serving and ministering through this class, and made many lifelong friendships.

She often said that her family was her greatest joy. She leaves behind a daughter, Sharron Pennington (Jim), and a son, Cary McGonagill (Carol), a daughter-in-law, Frankie McGonagill; seven grandchildren, Mark McGonagill (Jennifer), Michele Pennington, Paige Pennington, Courtney Rima (Tom), Jenny Gafford (Alan), Hunter McGonagill (Paige), Hardy Ryals  ((Jesse); and ten great-grandchildren, Cameron Hamad, Cayse Gordon (Blake), Caitlin Peterson (Casey), Michael McGonagill, Jake and Griffin Rima, Ethan and Sawyer McGonagill, Gavin and Lillian Gafford.

Along with her parents and all her siblings, Mrs. McGonagill was predeceased by her husband, Charles W. McGonagill, her son Charles C. McGonagill, two daughters-in-law Patty McGonagill and Jennifer McGonagill, a son-in-law Jim Pennington, and twelve very dear nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank a very special caregiver and friend, Mrs. Shirley Drewery; Dr. Shaun Helmhout and staff; Kindred Hospice nurses, staff and volunteers especially Stephanie Greer, Lindsey Hemphill and Vickie Jeffries; Chaplain Brad Burnett; and Dr. Timothy Gibson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to: Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, 3100 Samford Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71103; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; or North Oxford Baptist Church, PO Box 1700, Oxford, MS 38655.

For additional information or to sign an online guestbook, please visit www.wallerfuneralhome.com or call 662-234-7971.