Graveside services for Margaret Eleanor Akin, age 87, of Arcadia, LA will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, May 27, 2021 at Simsboro City Cemetery in Simsboro, LA with Rev. Wayne Whiteside and Dr. John Ward officiating.   Services are under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, LA.

Margaret Eleanor Akin…. A sweet smile and gentle spirit to everyone who knew her.  Margaret's journey Home to meet her Lord ended on May 12, 2021.  Born on December 20, 1933, she was welcomed to our world by her loving parents Bill and Jenna Faye Renner in Marshfield, Missouri.  She graduated from Marshfield High School in 1951.  Her true joy in her younger years was raising her children, Jan and Marty in California.  After many years of travel between Missouri and California, Margaret met the true love of her life and became "The babe" to William Warren Akin, and they built their life in Sibley, Louisiana.  She became a devoted Mimi in 1978, to her beloved grandson, Nathan.  She spent all of her free time watching him in football and cherished each story she was able to tell of her "Motor", the nickname coined by Bud. She spent her career days in a dental office.  When she met Dr. John Ward who was starting his own practice in Ruston, Louisiana, she became his "right hand" as his assistant opening the new office in Ruston, Louisiana in December 1984.  She and William, who she lovingly called "Bud," were always on the road riding their Goldwing motorcycle and camping and making friends wherever they went.  After riding in the Arkansas Hill Country, she and Bud made the plan to retire in Heber Springs, Arkansas.  Upon retiring from Dr. John Ward's dental practice in 1996, she and Bud built their home in Heber Springs, Arkansas where she spent her weekends motorcycling, boating on the lake, entertaining many friends and family, and welcoming her first great grandchild, Madison in June 2001.  Her handwritten letters kept her in touch with friends all over the country. After 2001, She quickly realized that home was back in Louisiana to watch great grandchildren grow.  Her love and life was shown through her devotion to her friends and family in always being present and available when anyone needed her.  Her great grandchildren were just a walk through the woods, and she resided on "the farm" in Simsboro, Louisiana until she later moved to Leslie Lakes in Arcadia, Louisiana to live her final days.  Margaret was a loyal wife, a devoted mother, a dependable friend, an adoring grandmother, a faithful co-worker, and no words describe how passionate she was being a great grandmother.  She is preceded in death by both parents and her husband, William W. Akin.  She is survived by daughter, Jeanette "Jan" Huckabee, wife of Charles Huckabee of Sibley, Louisiana; son, Martin B. Clevenger and wife Debra of Springville, California; grandson, Nathan T. Scheer and his children Madison, Micah, and Jon Robert Scheer, and their mother Stacy Scheer all of Simsboro.  She was loved dearly by step- children:  Brian Akin and wife Janice; their children Travis and Tyler, all of Springfield, Missouri; Sherry Steward and husband Keith, along with their daughter Madison of Marshfield, Missouri; step-grandchildren Rachel French and husband, Daniel and their children Callee and Caleb French of Shreveport, Louisiana.  Many beloved friends through the years will be left to cherish their time and memories with Ms. Margaret.  Special thanks and appreciation goes to the caring staff at Leslie Lakes Retirement Center.