Mary Ellen Kessinger, 87, of Litchfield, died at 2:38 p.m. Tuesday, July 8, 2014, at Montgomery Nursing & Rehab Center in Taylor Springs.
A private family graveside funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Monday, July 14, at Mayfield Memorial Park Cemetery near Carlinville. There will be no visitation. Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Kessinger was born on April 1, 1927, in Chicago, a daughter of Fred Merrill and Gertrude (Woodward) Jewell. She was the valedictorian of the Carlinville High School class of 1944 and then attended Blackburn College in Carlinville where she earned the Elizabeth Wright Steidley Award and her associate's degree in chemistry, ranking third in her graduating class. She earned a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from the University of Illinois where she ranked in the top ten percent of her class and top three percent of her college.
She married James Nelson Kessinger on Aug. 28, 1948, in Carlinville and they were married for nearly 61 years when Mr. Kessinger died on July 30, 2009.
She worked as a chemist in the research lab at Ralston Purina Co. in St. Louis before devoting herself full time to starting her family.
She was very active and enjoyed the outdoors; most notably her flower gardens were known around town for creative colorful displays from spring through fall. She also spent many hours bird watching, rock collecting, and swimming. Additionally she enjoyed collecting antiques, dancing, and bowling.
She is survived by two sons, Alan (Gordon) Kessinger of Tucson, AZ, and Curtis (Jan) Kessinger of Lakewood, CA; three daughters, Jean Kessinger of Richmond, IN, Carol (Jerry) Millburg of Litchfield, and Sandi Kessinger of Springfield; four grandchildren, Thomas Millburg, and Matt, Scott, and Stacy Reynolds; three great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Albert Willis of Mulberry Grove; and a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Vernon and Betty Easley of Albuquerque, NM.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a son, David Kessinger; and sisters Marjorie Brooks and Shirley Nevins.
The family suggests memorials to Blackburn College or Litchfield Food Pantry. To sign the online guestbook, or light a candle, visit www.plummerfuneralservices.com.
