Margaret Travis

Margaret Carlile (Trudy) Travis, 90, of Lawrence, KS, passed away in Lawrence on September 30, 2011. A service of remembrance will be held 2 p.m., Sunday, October 23, 2011 at Unitarian Fellowship,1263 North 1100 Road, Lawrence, KS 66047.  

Born in Collinsville, OK, on June 27, 1921, she was the daughter of the late Robert O. and Betty Lou (McAfee) Carlile.

She grew up in Collinsville and Coffeyville, KS, graduating from Field Kindley High School and Coffeyville Junior College, winning numerous awards for debate and public speaking.   She married Kenneth A. Travis, a Coffeyville resident, in March of 1941.

After residing in Baltimore, MD and Waynesville, NC, where they worked in defense plants during W.W. II, she and her husband moved to Lawrence, KS in 1946, where they both resided for the rest of their lives.

She was employed by Centron Corporation of Lawrence from 1947-1985, where she was a motion picture scriptwriter and director, working on numerous educational and commercial motion pictures. Many of her pictures for Young America Films pioneered the use of classroom educational films in the 1950s and 1960s, playing a significant role in educating a generation of young Americans.  She wrote the script for the inspirational film "Leo Beuerman," which was nominated for an Academy Award in 1970.   She retired as Centron’s vice president of creative services.

After retirement, she worked as a volunteer for Kansas Audio Reader, the Lawrence Unitarian Fellowship, and Lawrence Memorial Hospital, and enjoyed gardening, homemaking, travel, senior aerobics, and time with her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and a sister, her son Stewart, and her husband. She is survived by two sons, Tyson of Pine Bluff, AR and Kevin of Westwood, KS, in addition to one grandson, two granddaughters, and two great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Douglas County Senior Services, Coffeyville Community College, or Kansas Audio Reader and may be sent in care of the mortuary.
 

8 Condolences

  1. Leigh Cockrum on October 4, 2011 at 8:30 am

    Ty and Kevin,

    I am thinking about you at this time.

    Leigh



  2. Rilla Chandler on October 4, 2011 at 8:43 am

    Ty and Kevin, your mother was a remarkable woman and she enriched my life just in the few times she visited Pine Bluff. Her wit and command of language made her an absolute delight. I am sorry for your loss. Ms. Trudy will be missed.



  3. Tanya Simpson on October 4, 2011 at 11:08 am

    Ty and Kevin, my thoughts and prayers ar with you. Trudy was a special lady and I am privledged to have met her. God Bless her.



  4. Wynne Mihura on October 4, 2011 at 2:20 pm

    You’re in my thoughts and prayers.

    Wynne Mihura



  5. Janet Mosser on October 5, 2011 at 1:54 pm

    Trudy is the last of the core group that made Centron such a success…Art, Russ, Norm, Trudy, Chuck and Herk. Dad told me a story about how Trudy stopped to ask about work at Mosser Wolf Camera Store one day – helped them with their window displays to begin…and then went on to show how skilled in writing she was. They will all be missed.



  6. Mei Lynne Travis on October 6, 2011 at 6:19 pm

    My Grandmother was a brilliant and remarkable woman. She could tell a story like no other. I could go on and on about her accomplishments, but her work says it all. All I can add is that she was the best Grandma ever, and that I’ll always love her and miss her dearly.



  7. Ava Slater & Barry Bulloch on October 7, 2011 at 1:20 pm

    To the Travis Family: We are so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.



  8. vali talbot on October 11, 2011 at 1:05 pm

    Tyson, Kevin and family, What a wonderful and inspirational woman Miss Trudy was! I am honored to have known her. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you.



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