Mary Mechling

God was looking down from heaven searching for an angel and saw Mary. Mary Ellen Mechling, 82 was welcomed into heaven on Friday, July 14, 2017 at her home in Decatur.Mary was born on April 2, 1935 in Mode, Illinois to Irvin and Hazel (Quicksall) Kessler, the fourth of ten children, and was raised on the farm with her brothers and sisters. They also had one brother who died at birth.Mary had many stories to tell of her years on the farm but one that stood out the most was when her father would take her and her siblings fishing after the chores were done. Mary became quite the fisherwoman and enjoyed fishing throughout her life. After graduating from Stewardson-Strasburg High School in 1953, she worked at Brown Shoe Factory in Sullivan. She got the best catch of her life and moved to Decatur when she married Orval F. Mechling (who survives) on June 3, 1956. They were married at Stewardson Methodist Church. As a woman of faith, Mary had a heart for serving others and many people and organizations were recipients of her giving nature. She volunteered as a Girl Scout leader, with Meals on Wheels from 1963 to 2016, at St. Mary's Hospital Auxilary, and at New Life Pregnancy Center. She also spent many hours volunteering at church; she was a Sunday School teacher, pianist, and treasurer for 35 years at Second Church of God, in Decatur and a nursery worker and kitchen helper for several years at First General Baptist Church, also in Decatur. She enjoyed many hobbies including flower and vegetable gardening, quilting, crocheting, sewing, jigsaw puzzles, sudoku puzzles, baking, reading, music, traveling, camping, and fishing (she's the walleye queen in Canada). Mary also enjoyed playing softball and was a member of the Bob's Girls bowling team in her younger years. Mary was a loving mother to three children: Marilee (Rob) Grove of Morton, Ron (Peggy) Mechling of Decatur, and Arla (Ray) George of Cedar Rapids, IA; loving grandmother to seven grandchildren: Amber (Bruno) Alencar, Andrew (Lindsey) Grove, Jeremy George (deceased), Aaron Mechling, Joshua (Haley) George, Tiffany George, and Nathan Mechling; and loving Grammy Great to four great- grandchildren: Julia and Samuel Alencar, and Philip and Charles Grove. Mary was also host to a foreign exchange daughter, Agnes (Wesselius) Opdam, of The Netherlands. She was a loving sister to Charles and Vivian Kessler (both deceased), Norma and Chuck Hobson (both deceased), Glen (deceased) and Karol Kessler, Ivan Kessler (deceased), Don and Ann Kessler, Helen and Harold Brown, Janet Beitz (deceased), Janice Cordell, Carol and Leonard (deceased) Reardon, Roger and Wanda Kessler, and brother in law, Ron Beitz and wife Tanya. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 21 with visitation one hour prior to service at First General Baptist Church. Visitation will be from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Thursday, July 20 at Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home, Decatur.Memorial contributions in Mary's name can be made to First General Baptist Church, 2825 S Baltimore, Decatur, IL 62521 or to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of Illinois Inc, 275 N York St, Ste 401, Elmhurst, IL 60126 "
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