Margaret Anne Lawless

Durham – Margaret Anne Muller Lawless, age 75, died at her home on December 2, 2021. She was born in Durham on April 2, 1946 to the late Mary Martin Muller and John Charles Muller. Margaret attended Immaculata Catholic school as a child, graduated from Durham High School, and spent two years at Louisburg College. Upon finishing her education, she started working at the Regional Education Laboratory for the Carolinas and Virginia in Chapel Hill. Eventually, she worked at Duke University in the office of the Graduate School until she married Phil and became a mother. When her children were doing well in school, she wanted to get back to work to help support the family. Opportunities opened up at Duke and she spent twenty-seven years there before retiring. Her daughter Emily grew up obsessed with horses and Margaret became very enthusiastic too. She learned how to drive and pull a horse trailer and attended horse competitions all the time with family in tow. She liked to sing and, with Phil, served for decades in choirs at church, starting with folk group music in the 70s and graduating into more challenging music as new directors took charge. Margaret is survived by her husband of almost fifty years, Philip Austin Lawless, her son Jacob Cooper Haring, and her daughters Amy Alison Lawless and Emily Anne Lawless. Margaret was preceded in death by her sisters Patricia Muller Gibson and Rita Muller Gerke and her brother Charles John Muller. A visitation is scheduled for 5 – 7 pm on Wednesday, Dec 8 at Hall-Wynne Funeral Home, 1113 West Main St, Durham, NC. A Funeral Mass with be held at 10:30 am on Thursday, Dec 9 at Immaculate Conception Church, 810 West Chapel Hill St, Durham. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to her favorite charity, Meals on Wheels, or to one of your choosing. The Lawless family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. Online condolences: www.hallwynne.com – select obituaries.