Mary Urhahn

BENTON, Mo. -- Mary Ellen Nebel Urhahn, 60, of Benton passed away Wednesday, May 6, 2009, at her home after battling pancreatic cancer.

She was born Aug. 28, 1948, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Gladys Keller Nebel and the late Calvin Nebel. She was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chaffee. She was married to Larry Urhahn at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chaffee in 1997.

After graduating from Thomas W. Kelly High School, Mary received bachelor's and master's degrees in education from Southeast Missouri State University.

Mary taught at Kelly Elementary School in Benton the majority of her 30-year teaching career. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau, Missouri State Teachers Association, and served as secretary of Retired Teachers Association. She also served terms as president, vice president and secretary of Beta Upsilon, as well as state president of Alpha Delta Kappa, both teacher sororities.

Over the years, she was a Sunday school teacher, member of Ladies Aid and officer at St. Paul Church. She was a Girl Scout leader, member of Benton Women's Club and most recently was a "Yard of the Month" judge for the Benton Chamber of Commerce.

Mary is survived by her husband, Larry Urhahn of Benton; her mother, Gladys Keller Nebel of Cape Girardeau; a daughter, Wendy (Keith) Cooper of Perryville, Mo.; a son, Ryan (Becky) Wooldridge of Kansas City; a stepson, Michael (Libby) Urhahn of Commerce, Mo.; two brothers, Tom (Sue) Nebel and Rob (Ginnie) Nebel of Clarksville, Tenn.; a sister, Christine (Charlie) Cott of Columbia, Mo.; six grandchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and many dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, Calvin Nebel.

Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau, with the Rev. Douglas Breite officiating. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

Memorials may be made to Kelly Elementary Library, Trinity Lutheran Church or School or Southeast Hospice.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.