Koechel, Mary Ellen 


HORNELL, N.Y. -- A memorial service for Mary Ellen Koechel, to honor her final wishes, 
was held 11 a.m. Sunday, January 15, 2006, at the Dagon Funeral Home in Hornell, N.Y., 
with her son, Minister Greg Koechel officiating. Following the service, family and friends 
enjoyed refreshments at a "Celebration of Life" gathering at the Hornell Moose Lodge. 
Mary Ellen Congdon Koechel, 68, of Longview, Texas, formerly of Hornell, died September 
21, 2005, at her home. Born January 17, 1937, in Hornell, N.Y., she was the daughter of 
Stanley and Margaret Dunham Congdon. She attended schools in Hornell and married Robert 
"Bob" Koechel December 29, 1956. They resided in Niagara Falls and Youngstown, N.Y., with 
their three children, before moving to East Texas in 1974. Mary Ellen worked as a teacher's 
aide in the Lewiston-Porter School District in Youngstown, and for 26 years was a lay-away 
clerk for K-Mart in Longview, retiring in 2001. She was an avid bowler and enjoyed going to 
casinos and shopping for that blue light special. Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her 
parents, Stanley and Margaret Congdon; her brother, James Congdon; her sister, Jackie 
Hubbard; her brother-in-law, Bob Hubbard; and several aunts and uncles. Survivors include 
her husband, Bob Koechel of Longview; one daughter, Kathy Williams of Hallsville; two sons, 
Brian and wife, Holly, Koechel of Gold River, Calif., and Minister Greg and wife, Kathy, 
Koechel of Shreveport, La.; two sisters, Margaret Ann and husband, Mike, Jones of Buffalo, 
N.Y., and Kathy and husband, John, Skiers of Tampa, Fla.; two brothers, Charles and wife, 
Doris, Congdon of Hornell, N.Y., and David and wife, Jane, Congdon of Perkinsville, N.Y.; 
five grandchildren, Kelly Koechel of Japan, Dustin Freeman and Jacob Koechel, both of 
Shreveport, La., Rachel Koechel of Seattle, Wash., and Kallie Williams of Washington, D.C.; 
two great-grandchildren, Dylan Freeman and Evan White of Shreveport, La.; three "grand-dogs," 
Snoko, K.J., and Bridget; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, 
great-great-nieces, and great-great-nephews; other relatives; and a host of special K-Mart 
friends and customers.

Published in the Longview News-Journal on 2/5/2006.