Margaret Cordingley Stanford, 91, died February 21, 2011 at the Ashton Living Center, surrounded by her family. She was the oldest child of George Huggins Cordingley and Arminta Egbert Cordingley, and was born September 11, 1919 in Ora, Idaho.
Margaret grew up in Marysville surrounded by a wonderful community of family and friends. She worked for a number of dude ranches growing up, and loved to ride horses and ski, loves that stayed with her throughout her life. She graduated from Ashton High School, and moved to Idaho Falls with her sister Zelda, where they worked and she began nurses training, before a lack of funds forced her withdrawal from the program. She worked for Valley Bank and other local businesses before moving to California with her best friend Afton Whyte at the start of World War II to work in the aviation industry. Later, she returned to Ashton and began working for the Fremont County Clerk's office, where she was introduced to L.W. "Jinks" Stanford by their mutual friend Al Ruthardt. She and Jinks eloped on October 27, 1945 to Jackson, Wyo.
They both began working to build the airport at St. Anthony, now named Stanford Field in their honor. They worked long hours building the airport and their aviation business, all the while also holding other jobs, building a home and raising their family. They had 5 children: Georgiann, Lannie, Deon, Lee and Penny. After Jinks' death in 1974, Margaret continued to operate the flying business for a number of years, until it was sold. She later worked for Artco before retiring.
She was an instrument rated pilot and loved to fly. It was her great regret that she had not been born in an age when women could become astronauts. She taught ground school to many classes of budding pilots, and rebuilt several airplanes. Mom was awarded the Amelia Earhardt award by the national women pilot's organization, "The 99's." It brought her great joy to fly over Yellowstone Park and Mesa Falls, and to teach young pilots the correct way to do figure 8's and make spot landings. She loved her home and was an avid gardener and always delighted in having her many friends and family show up for dinner or for a week. She was blessed with always having terrific neighbors.
She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and served in many organizations, but especially loved the Relief Society.
Margaret is survived by her children, Georgiann Wheeler of Albany, Oregon, Lannie (Harold) Olson of Montpelier, Idaho, Deon Mace of Chubbuck, Idaho, and Penny Stanford of Dubois, Idaho; daughter in law, June Stanford of El Paso, Texas; sisters, Nieca Jessen and Georgia Oberhansley of Ashton; brother, John Hollis Cordingley of Salt Lake City, Utah; 16 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband L. W. "Jinks" Stanford; her son, Lee Stanford; her grandson, Aaron Grinnell; her sisters Madge Cordingley and Zelda Hill; and, her parents.
The funeral will be Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at the Ashton LDS Stake Center. (Location changed from earlier notice) The family will visit with friends and family from 11:30 a.m. until 12:45 at the church before the service. Burial will be at the Pineview Cemetery, in Ashton, Idaho under the direction of the Bert Flamm Mortuary. The family wants to especially thank the wonderful staff of the Ashton Living Center for their loving and gentle care of our precious sister, mother, aunt, grandmother and friend.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Margaret Stanford Scholarship Fund established at the East Idaho Credit Union in St. Anthony, Idaho.