Margaret Ellen Hence, at the age of 82 years, entered into her Eternal Home in the early morning of Friday, March 17, 2023 at her home in Union, MO surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and many friends.  Margaret was born in St. Clair, MO on March 19, 1940; the daughter of the late Charles Hence and his wife, Helen "Nellie" (Smith).  She received her education up to the 10 ^th grade at St. Clair High School before having to begin her work career to help her mother support the family.  Margaret worked at the Wood Hill, which was Carmo Shoe Factory in Union, MO, during the days and part-time in the evenings at a plastics factory.  In 1964, she started working at Ballmann's Engineering in Washington, MO and remained there for 18 years until she became self-employed and started her own cleaning business in 1982 called "Miss Clean & Shine" – cleans anything she finds! Margaret then went to work in 1988 as a janitor for Washington Wal-Mart Supercenter.  She met Sam Walton, who shook her hand, and told her that her position as janitor was possibly the most important job in the whole store.  In 1993, Margaret went to work for her daughter Margie's business, Critter Corral, a pet grooming shop in Washington, MO.

Margaret was a Believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.  She was saved at the age of 14 at the Nazarene Church in St. Clair, MO. She was a member of and taught children's Sunday School at various churches.  First, at Apostolic Pentecostal Church in Union, then Grace Family Church for 28 years in Union, Word of Life Nazarene Church in Union, and for the last two years of her life attended Union Church of God where she was the Matriarch Grandmother of the Church.  Every Sunday morning, she would say "I'm here!" with such joy as she had been sick with CHF and was grateful to make to the House of the Lord one more time! Margaret had a lionesses love to devotion for God and her family, and she would always share Jesus with anyone whether they liked it or not.

She enjoyed the various family vacations she was able to take throughout the years.  Margaret was so very proud of her children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews and they equally loved her back. Her grandson, Caleb, even set up her own Instagram profile to document their silly memories in which she was very famous. Margaret is, and always will be, forever cherished and missed by her family and many, many friends.

Margaret was preceded in death by her father, Charles Hence; her mother and stepfather, Helen and Robert "Buck" Trokey; her grandparents, Clark and Sarah "Sadie" Smith; her brother, Robert Lee Trokey; and former husband, Raymond Berger.

She was blessed with two children: Margie Berger of Union, and Mark Berger and wife Carol of Union; four grandsons: Joshua Berger and wife Suzie of Washington, Caleb Berger of Chicago, IL., Seth Berger of Union, and Isaac Berger of Union; one sister, Helen Meyer of Highlandville and many other relatives and friends.