Margaret Ann McCasland Bennett

Margaret Ann McCasland Bennett passed away on February 11, 2025 in Salt Lake City Utah. She was preceded in death by her Beloved Husband Clawson W. Bennett, her former spouse James "Jim" A. Roberts, her father John Samuel "J.S." McCasland and her mother Allie Mae "Mamaw" McCasland, Margaret's sister Darlene, and her brother Richard. She was pre-deceased also by her grandson Jared Roberts. 

Survived by children, John, Kathie, Karan, Jim, Krystal, and Karma, grandchildren; Naomi, Arielle, Austin, Marshall, Sophia, Tom, Ryan, Ali, Brandon, Lysette, Melissa, Brittany, Alicia, Jamie, Corbin, and Shauntel, and great-grandchildren; Dallen, Rorey, Elliott, Emmett, Eleanore, Allie Mae, Jerika, Blakely, Atticus, Etta.

Margaret Ann McCasland was born on August 30, 1935 in a small house in the surrounding territory of Queen City, Texas. She attended school in Atlanta Texas until in 1951. At the age of 16 she went to Salt Lake City for a 2 1/2 week stay, but ended up staying for 2 years with her aunt Myrtle Plum and aunt Jena Burts where she attended West High School for her sophomore and junior year. She then returned to Atlanta, where she attended her senior year at Atlanta High School.

Margaret attended Spencer Business College in Shreveport, Louisana.

During her time in Atlanta she caught the eye of James Ace Roberts who proposed marriage. Jim joined the US Army where he served as a radar technician in Texas for 2 years. They were to be married soon after his discharge from the Army. They were married in the Mesa, Arizona Temple, April 15th 1955.

They took up residence in Mesa, Arizona, renting a (very) small house from Jim's mother Sophia Laird Roberts. While Jim attended college, their first child John was born. After college, Jim took a teaching job in Coronado, California. Looking for greener pastures and greater challenges, the young couple with their infant son moved to Salt Lake City where Jim sought work in the field of Chemical Engineering. That was about when their second child Kathie Mae was born. 

Later, Jim secured a job in Brigham City, Utah at Thiokol Chemical Corporation where he worked for the next 12 years. During this time Margaret worked hard as a home maker, mother, advisor, teacher, first aid responder (skinned knees etc.), driver, spiritual guide, and the best pancake maker west of the Mississippi! And the best home made syrup. 

Two years after they moved to Brigham City, Karan Ann was brought into the world, then Jimmy joined the ranks, after that Krystal Sue was born, then Karma Jean finished off the family. Together they had many great adventures! Stories abound.

Dad, “Jim” always and forever looking for a better "deal", started a business venture in Salt Lake City trading “penny stocks” so Roberts & Taylor was launched and Dad, Mom and the kids moved from Brigham City and took up residence in Murray, Utah in 1970.

Approx. 4 years later, Dad's employment challenges, and resulting solutions took the family to Kennewick, Washington for a year, then on to Somerdale, New Jersey. Kathie, Karan, Jim, Krystal, Karma were still living at home and made the move, John joined the Navy.

Margaret and Jim separated through divorce during this timeframe, and mom and the kids ultimately moved back to Salt Lake City.

Margaret took a job as a dental assistant which she was very good at. This was where one of her patients, a certain Clawson W. Bennett while on the dental chair undergoing a cleaning took a shine to the pretty young dental assistant. A date later and dinner at Maddox in Brigham City, and it was just a matter of a few short weeks before they were engaged to be married. The lovely couple were married and sealed in the Jordan River Temple, after which Clawson whisked her away to his residence in Hanley Falls, Minnesota. Krystal and Karma moved along with them.

Their life in Hanley Falls, a tiny community in Southern Minnesota surrounded by endless miles of cornfields and co-op junctions was idyllic as Clawson (now retired) and mom remodeled their house and cared for the lovely green surroundings.

Their joyful union was cut short a few short years later when Clawson suffered a series of massive heart attacks and passed away. He was buried in Hanley Falls, Minnesota.

After the tragedy and funeral, Mom and Karma moved back to Salt Lake City.

Margaret, Jim Jr., & Kathie, with a shared vision started a Wedding Chapel business in West Valley City called The Chateau where they successfully created many sweet memories for young couples and for themselves working together. This was a lot of work for all of them and they made a good go of it but the market was tough and they closed the doors after a few years of hard work. 

Margaret lived the last of many years with and cared for her mother, Allie Mae McCasland until she passed. She later moved in with the Kathie and Rick Maughan in Murray, Utah, and subsequently moved with them to Sandy. Mom made it possible for Kathie to finish her degree by keeping things going in the household. She spent many years with their family. We are all grateful for their service to mom, especially in her difficult final days. She passed surrounded by family who love and already miss her.

On March 1st 2025, A Special Family Gathering will be held at the Maughan home beginning at 1pm. 

Subsequently a Celebration of Life will be held at 3pm at the Maughan home. Friends and anyone whose life was touched by Margaret are invited to visit in memory and celebration of Margaret Ann Bennett. 

The Maughan Residence: 

89 East Benson Way

Sandy UT 84070

email katharine.maughan@gmail.com for more information