Margaret Blevins was one of those people who enjoyed the simple things in life. She loved and appreciated her neighbors, and it was not unusual for her to bake them a cake or a pan of brownies on their birthdays. “She wasn’t one that visited a lot, but she was there if you needed her,” said a neighbor.

Margaret, 78, died October 24. She was a long-time resident of Ruby Avenue and was among the last of the old-time residents on her street.

“Mom was a very loving and caring person. She loved her family. I like to think of her as a feisty little angel,” said her daughter, Jody Saunders.

Margaret enjoyed cooking, especially for her family. Her go-to meal was chicken and dumplings, collard greens and cornbread, homemade slaw, and green beans. “She always cooked these dishes when we came home,” said Jody.

“We had a tradition at Thanksgiving. Mom always cooked and usually cooked enough to feed half of the neighborhood. After Thanksgiving dinner and a little football, we would usually go to Bristol to see Speedway in Lights, and then we would go shopping on Black Friday. For Christmas she usually came to our home in Charlotte, N.C. This Thanksgiving, we will have another empty plate at the table,” said Jody as she lamented the passing of her mother.

Margaret, in her spare time, enjoyed quilting. “We all got a quilt at Christmas from Mom. Much of the time she pieced the quilts she made. It was something to occupy her time,” said Jody.

Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Earl; a son, Ricky; and a daughter, Shelly.

Margaret had lived much of her life in Tennessee but at two different times had lived in North Carolina. “She and dad moved back to Tennessee in 1995. They lived in the house that her father built. Dad died in 2011,” Jody shared.

Margaret’s constant companion was her canine friend, Jake, who is now with Jody.

Margaret’s favorite pastimes were going to yard sales and watching football. “She loved yard sales and especially liked bargains,” said Jody.

When her children were growing up, Margaret enjoyed going to watch her son play football and to Jody’s basketball games. “She went to all our games,” Jody said.

She especially enjoyed watching football games on television. “That’s how she spent her weekends. She especially liked the Denver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys, and that was because Jason Witten played for the Cowboys and Peyton Manning last played with the Broncos. She was a big fan of Witten and Manning. She always watched Monday Night Football,” Jody shared.

Margaret last worked at Snap-on Tools.

“My mom was a funny person. We enjoyed teasing her and laughing with her. She was just a simple person who enjoyed the little things in life — her family, neighbors, good food, a good bargain. We are going to miss her smile, her caring, and especially spending time with her during the holidays. She made holidays special,” said Jody.

To Margaret Blevins, it was the little things in life that mattered.