Tau, Margaret Louise Headrick

Margaret Louise Headrick Tau, age 83, resident of 14687 West Road, Saegertown, was called home by her Lord Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at Meadville Medical Center, Meadville, PA. She was born on September 7, 1927, at the home of her parents in Linesville, PA and was the daughter of the late Chester and Louise Walsh Headrick and step-daughter of Elgia Mosier Headrick Carman. She married Ralph L. Tau June 4, 1949.

Margaret was a 1945 graduate of Cambridge Springs High School and after attending Edinboro University in the summer of 1945, she began teaching in Mosiertown in a one room schoolhouse using a temporary certificate. She taught school for four years while attending Edinboro University during the summer and taking evening courses through the winter. While continuing to attend summer and evening classes, she raised a family of six children, receiving her BS Degree in elementary education and a specialization degree in special education in 1971. Margaret began teaching physically handicapped children in February of 1960 at the Ryan Road Sportsman’s Club. She also taught intermediate and special education classes at Cambridge Springs Elementary School. For many years she substituted at Cussewago, Saegertown and Cambridge Elementary Schools as well as tutoring local students unable to attend classes. In 1962, she began teaching an intermediate special education class in the Northwestern School District at West Springfield Elementary School . The class was moved to Albion in 1970 and was taken over by the Intermediate Unit 5 in 1973. She was listed in the 1976-77 Notable Americans in Child Development Professionals. She was a lifetime member of the PSEA and NEA, retiring in 1985 for health reasons. After retirement, she and her husband, Ralph traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada for 13 years visiting family and friends.

Margaret was a member of the Hickernell United Methodist Church where she was a Sunday School teacher, Junior Youth Fellowship leader, choir member, Secretary to the Administrative Board, and served as a delegate to the Annual United Methodist Conference at Grove City numerous times. She began the church?????s card ministry and assisted with the annual bazaar. One of her favorite pastimes, until losing her eyesight to Macular Degeneration, was doing needlepoint items that she donated to the bazaar and gifted family and friends.

A 69 year member of Hayfield Grange, Margaret first joined Rundells Grange and upon her marriage to Ralph demitted to Hayfield Grange There she served in many capacities including Secretary for 20 years, Lecturer, Family Activities Chairman, Junior Matron and Community Service Chairman. She was also a member of Crawford County Pomona Grange serving as Lecturer, Family Activities Chairman, and Youth/Young Adult Chairman. As a member of the PA State Grange she served on the State Women’s Activities Committee from 1969-1976 and also served as a State Junior Deputy. She was a member of the National Grange and attended many of the National Grange sessions. In October, 2003 she was named PA State Granger of the Year, and in November 2008 the Ralph Tau Family was recognized as the third place Family in the National Grange Family of the Year.

Margaret was a former member of the Crawford Unit of the American Cancer Society and in 1994 was named ACS Volunteer of the Year. She served on the Board, chaired Daffodil Days and assisted with hoagie sales to raise money for the Society.

She dedicated her life to her family, her Church and to Grange giving freely of herself and to the community. She believed strongly that you should give back to your community and rarely told anyone “no”?when asked to do something. She always found the time to help those in need while instilling the same attributes in her children. She was a wonderful cook and baker and at Christmas was generous giving gifts to the shut-ins, neighbors and friends with boxes of homemade cookies, candies and breads.

Family surviving Margaret include her husband, Ralph, of 61 years; six children -?Susan Tau of Saegertown; Chester Tau and wife, Michele of Springboro; Mary Beth Coyle and husband, Edwin of Cochranton; Virginia Pitts and her husband, Wesley of Sarasota, FL; Patricia Toussaint and her husband, Derek of New Buffalo, MI; and Daniel of Cody of WY. Also nine grandchildren – Michael Tau, Heather Tau, Brenda Tau, Jennifer Jones, Erin Colton, Eric Colton, Brandon Tau, Shauni Tau, and Gabrielle Toussaint; three great grandchildren -Jade Tau, Jacqueline Tau, and Emily Tau.

She was preceded in death in addition to her parents and step-mother, by a sister – JoAnn Smith and a grandson – Mark Tau.

Friends may call at the Van Matre Family Funeral Home in Cambridge Springs on Thursday from 2-4 and 7-9. Funeral services will be held at Hickernell United Methodist Church, 12048 Springboro Street, Springboro, PA on Friday morning at 11:00 a.m. Co-officiating are Reverend Robert Trask, pastor of the Church and Reverend Dixie Welker, Chaplain. Interment will be in Venango Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made to Hickernell United Methodist Church, Meadville Lions Club, or Hayfield Grange.