Mary Mecham

Mary Wilson Mecham died Monday, July 3, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was surrounded by her family.

Mary was born April 19, 1923, at Bell City, Mo., daughter of Dr. John and Verl Wilson. The family moved to Bloomfield, Mo., when she was 12. She received a teaching certificate from Southeast Missouri State University.

She married Loren Wood Mecham, who preceded her in death in 1991. They lived in Malden, Mo., where Mary taught elementary school. She and Woody moved their family to Cape Girardeau in 1966. She was a homemaker and taught preschool at First Presbyterian Church.

She had five daughters, Lily Rose (deceased), Kandi Mecham of Elkins, Ark., Kristi Earl of South Pasadena, Calif., Kathi Mecham of Cape Girardeau, Laurie Mecham of Springfield, Mo.; three grandsons, Daniel Stanfield of Highland Park, Calif., Dewyatt Stanfield of Indianapolis, Ind., Kiefer Cortez-Mecham of Cape Girardeau; six great-grandchildren, Patrick, Kayla, Jaquelyn, Kirsten, Isabella and Joseph Michael.

Mary has two sisters, Alice Mayberry of Park Hills, Mo., and Betsy White of Springfield. She was loved by many nieces and nephews and special friend, William Burkheimer of Cape Girardeau.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Bill and John Wilson, and three sisters, Rose Weber, Ruth Owen and Jeanne Bauer.

Mary was a kind and gentle person who lived what she spoke. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Cape Girardeau. She brought comfort to many people with her calm and understanding spirit. She loved nature and all it had to bring. She was an animal lover and avid bird watcher and feeder.

Mary loved working long hours in her yard and garden. She was a recycler to the end, recycling her body for research. She died as she lived, peaceful and thinking of the needs of others.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at First Presbyterian Church. A reception will follow in the fellowship hall.

Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.