Longtime Richmond, Texas, resident, aged 97, Margaret Joe Cartwright Van Slyke, journeyed Home to Heaven and into the awaiting Arms of God the Father and Jesus the Christ, on June 22, 2017. She experienced a sudden and irreversible physical decline in the afternoon of June 10, 2017.

She was born to James Luther Cartwright and Sarah Belle Blackstone Cartwright on July 11, 1919, in Shady Grove, Upshur County, Texas. She spent her childhood years living at the Gulf Oil Corporation Pump Station, near Big Sandy, Texas. After graduating from Big Sandy High School, she attended Texas State College for Women and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Journalism in 1941. Upon graduation, she was immediately hired by Wendel Shannon of the Herald Coaster. As a newspaper reporter, she interviewed and later dated and married Arthur H. Van Slyke, Attorney, in 1942. After my father's service in World War Two, she worked in his reopened Law Office and worked to further his legal career and practice. Later, she reentered the teaching profession and taught at Jane Long Elementary School from 1964-1972. Upon retirement, she became involved in church and other numerous charitable and social activities, especially at the Greatwood Living Center in Sugar Land.

Her son and daughter-in-law, Reverends Arthur and Terri Van Slyke, express their sincerest thanks for the extremely high-quality medical care and management provided by Concierge Physician Dr. Frank Mazza, M.D., Cardiologist William Carter Grinstead, M.D., Methodist Hospital Sugar Land, and the Methodist Hospital Houston Medical Center Neurological Surgical and Support Teams, Medical Resort Sugar Land, Houston Hospice, and personal assistant and driver, Rachel Martinez.

Margaret Joe, better known as "Joe", was predeceased by her husband of 55 years, Arthur. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Arthur and Terri, older sister Letress Meador, nephews Michael Meador and Bill Meador, and other family members.

A Memorial Service, conducted by Reverends Arthur and Terri Van Slyke, has been scheduled for Saturday, July 1, 2017, at 2:30 PM, in the Great Room, at the Greatwood Living Center located at 7001 Riverbrook Drive, Sugar Land, Texas 77479.

Condolence messages may be written for the Van Slyke family at www.garmanycarden.com.

Services are under the direction of Garmany & Carden Funeral Directors, 1201 Fourth Street, Rosenberg, TX 77471 (281)342-4671.