Mary Kessler

Mary Lee Kessler, 76, rural Colony, died Wednesday, May 30, 2012, at Allen County Hospital.

Mary Lee was born April 18, 1936, in Iola, the daughter of Alva and Margaret (Shafer) Yoho. She grew up in Iola.

On July 17, 1960, Mary Lee married Gene Kessler at First Baptist Church, Iola. They made their home northwest of Iola in Geneva Township.

Mary Lee worked for 30 years at H.L. Miller and Son dress factory in Iola, and later was a paraprofessional for USD 257. She enjoyed working with children. Her hobbies included gardening, gourd art and bird watching and feeding.

She is survived by her husband of almost 52 years; two sons, Charles Stratton and wife Alydia, rural Colony, and DeWayne Kessler and wife Margo, rural Neosho Falls; four grandchildren, Carol and Scott Kress, Deana and Paul Bittinger, Autumn and Jamie Adair and Alexis Setter, as well as numerous great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers, George and James Yoho, and three sisters, Vella May Wycoff, Alma M. “Susie” Ball and Judith Ann Yoho.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel in Iola. Burial will be in Geneva Cemetery, northwest of Iola. Memorials to American Cancer Society may be left with Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.iolafuneral.com.