Margaret Alicia Rife entered eternal rest with our Lord on September 4, 2017. She is reunited in Heaven with her husband, George Clyde Rife; daughter, JoAnn Rife Megill; and granddaughter, Alicia Rae Megill, as well as her parents and four of her siblings. She is survived by her son, Stephen Rife; daughter Karen McLeod and husband Andy; daughter Annaliese Altendorf and husband Mark; and daughter Esther Henningsen and husband Darin; grandchildren Craig Cutler, Sarah Coburn, Cameron Harris, Nicole Harris, Scott Sund, and Anthony Rife; and great-grandchildren Kolten Cutler, Alicia Coburn, and Louie Coburn.

Margaret was born September 21, 1936 in Liverpool, England to Joseph and Florence Hounslea, and she was the 5th of 6 siblings. While earning her college degree in education in London, Margaret met Clyde Rife, a United States Air Force Master Sergeant from Texas, and they married in Scotland in 1957. The USAF transferred them to Amarillo later that year, where they lived for two years before returning to Wethersfield AFB in England. Margaret loved the life of an Air Force wife. Their final assignment was Connally AFB in Waco, Texas. After retiring from the Air Force, Clyde and Margaret made their home in Houston, Texas, where Margaret completed courses to be certified to teach in Texas.

Margaret began teaching at Westwood Elementary in Spring Branch ISD in fall of 1969, when all of her own children were in school full time. The following April, Clyde passed away unexpectedly, and Margaret became a single mother to five children. She gave her children a wonderful childhood of adventures and experiences, including spending a year in England. After returning to the United States, Margaret resumed teaching at Westwood, where she taught until her retirement in December of 2000. Margaret touched the lives of countless students during her career, always going above and beyond to meet their needs.  Her students loved her so much that they returned for visits year after year, even after they had completed high school and college. Margaret received Spring Branch ISD's "Ray of Light" award in 2000. When Westwood added a library addition in 2004, they dedicated it as "The Margaret Rife Reading Garden" in honor of her contribution to Westwood students.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 14, 2017 from 6-8 p.m. at Klein Funeral Home Cy-Fair, 9719 Wortham Blvd., Houston TX 77065. Margaret's funeral Mass will be on Friday, September 15, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 6646 Addicks Satsuma Rd., Houston TX 77084. Margaret will be buried on Monday, September 18, 2017 at 10 a.m. at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr., Houston TX 77038.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Margaret's memory to Make-A-Wish Foundation of Texas Gulf Coast at texgulf.wish.org or at 12625 Southwest Freeway, Stafford TX 77477; or to Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, P.O. Box 1890, Amarillo TX 79174.