Margaret Jean Paradee

How do you describe the most amazing woman in the world? Strong, generous, wise, loving, and courageous would only scratch the surface. Margaret Jean Harkey Paradee was born in England, Arkansas. Margaret was one of six children of Mildred and Robert Glenn Harkey. Her work ethic and respect for all people was found in the cotton fields of Waxahachie, Texas. She learned that who you are as a person, had nothing to do with the color of your skin as she picked cotton alongside people of all ethnicities.

Mrs. Paradee was truly one in a million. Without a high school diploma, Margaret became an accountant for Sears & Roebuck in Dallas. Later in life, Margaret moved to Bandera, TX with her husband and children, Hope, Bob, Terry, and Jeanie. She taught Sunday School, helped cook meals for the elderly out of the basement kitchen of the First Baptist Church, and taught her children the importance of loving God and serving the less fortunate, the elderly, and anyone in need.

She and her husband opened a small cabinet shop, called Paradee’s Cabinets. She started adding trinkets and gifts to the store and not too long afterward, The Gingerbread House was born. A gift, floral, and Hallmark store, the Gingerbread House was a staple in Bandera for more than 40 years. Through her business, Margaret was able to serve others, share her wisdom with customers and townspeople, and teach her children the value of hard work. A consummate entrepreneur, Margaret went to school at night to learn income tax preparation; she owned the H&R Block office for 20 years to help families pay their taxes.

Margaret Paradee served for 9 years on the Bandera ISD School Board, including a time as President. Her contributions to Bandera include numerous parades and events, donations of money and merchandise for numerous fundraisers, and years of service. Through her work with the Bandera Business Bureau, serving as President, she had a hand in helping the town gain publicity and increase tourism to help all businesses. Shopper’s Jubilee was one such idea to help local businesses during the Christmas holidays. Store owners stayed open late, had lighting contests, and a parade on the first weekend of December. This later became known as Cowboy Christmas. She also was instrumental in establishing Riverfest as a staple of Bandera culture.

Mrs. Paradee was an artist, seamstress, baker, entrepreneur, and all-around Renaissance woman. Margaret is preceded in death by her brothers Bob, Bill, Charles, and John. She is survived by her sister, Diane Waddell, niece Margie and great-nephews Skyler and Douglas; children Hope Wickliffe, Bobby Wickliffe and his wife Kaitlyn, Terry Paradee and his wife Arianne, and Jeanie Oxler and her husband Matthew; grandchildren, Michael, Amanda, Dustin, Kaylin, Anastasia, Gabriel, Austin, and Maggie (Margaret); and her dog Dolly. Please pray for her family, as they have lost a matriarch, a hero, a beautiful sister, mother, and grandmother. Margaret Paradee gave everything she had to her family and community and will be sorely missed.

The family is very grateful to Peterson Hospice, nurse Debbie, and all the CNAs who helped care for Margaret over the past two years. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Peterson Hospice. Margaret loved flowers and to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation (especially her deer), so the family would like for everyone who knew and loved Mrs. Paradee to buy themselves some flowers to enjoy. Services are pending.