Margaret Ella (Douglas) Haehl

Margaret Ella (Douglas) Haehl, 98, of Shelbyville, passed away Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at Ashford Place Health Campus in Shelbyville. She was born April 17, 1916, in Shelby County, the daughter of the late Maurice and Vera (Hobart) Douglas. She married John D. Haehl on February 10, 1946, and he preceded her in death on January 7, 1983. Margaret is survived by her sons, John D. Haehl and wife, Nancy, of Columbus, Dr. William D. “Bill” Haehl and wife, Elaine, and Philip E. Haehl and wife, Nancy, both of Shelbyville, Richard H. Haehl and wife, Millie, of Zionsville and Robert D. Haehl of Indianapolis; sister, Alice Wheeler of Shelbyville; 21 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was also preceded in death by her sister, Catherine Ferguson; brothers, John Douglas, Edwin Douglas, Robert Douglas and James Douglas; and a great-grandson, Colin Pearson. Margaret graduated from Waldron High School in 1934, attended Indiana Central College and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Home Economics from Purdue University in 1938. After graduating from Purdue, she lived in Chicago for a couple of years, where she was the buyer for a major department store. Later, she worked for Indianapolis Power and Light, giving in-home demonstrations of the electric oven. She baked a chocolate cake during each demonstration and later became known for her chocolate cakes at pitch-in dinners. She was an active member of First Christian Church. Margaret enjoyed reading, gardening and cooking. She was an excellent seamstress and helped many people with her talent. Margaret was an artist and enjoyed painting landscapes, which she saw during her travels. She drove a car for over 80 years, with her first trip, at the age of 12, being from Geneva to Shelbyville to run errands for her father. Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, March 1, 2015 at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, March 2, 2015 at the funeral home, with Rev. Bill Horner officiating. Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville. Memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church, 118 W. Washington St., Shelbyville, Indiana 46176.