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Mary Lou King, 94, passed away April 30, 2017, at Green Hills Community.
Born March 31, 1923, to Uriel K. and Clara Mae Irene Yoder Hostetler, Mary Lou, their first child, was part of a farming family and community in West Liberty for most of her life, but she also enjoyed living for several years in Sarasota, Fla.
She married Herbert L. King from DeGraff on Dec. 11, 1944, and had three children, David King (married to Marian Petty), Gayle King (partner to Mark Strauss) and Patricia King (married to Joe Yore).
Mary Lou enjoyed working in the medical field for Dr. Paul Hooley in DeGraff, at OakHill Medical Center in West Liberty, for the Mary Rutan Hospital Guild, and for Green Hills Community in West Liberty.
Mary Lou, a lifelong member of South Union Mennonite Church, was active in a women’s sewing group called WMSA in her earlier years. In the mid-1970s, she introduced the community to a “start-up” Mennonite Central Committee self-help program, which began in the basement of the church, and which evolved into the worldwide fair trade organization known now as Global Crafts.
She was an accomplished seamstress and knitter as well as a talented home and clothing designer. Family and friends, as well as many guests from the church, can recall Sunday dinners in her dining room enjoying fried chicken. It was always at her table, in her middle years, that family members celebrated. Now, years later, her offspring can look around their homes and see they have decorated with gifts she gave, often straight from her own home. Her flair for creative home design and family gatherings will remain a legacy in the family.
Mary Lou was affectionately called “Mamma Lou” by several of her grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Her son David’s three children live in Bellefontaine, Spencer King with two children, Angel and Sabrina; Landon King and his wife Joy with three children, Tyler, Noland and Ivan; and TJ King with three children, Ciara, Kiersten and Foster. David’s wife Marian’s four children are Melody Gatchel and Beverly Jarrett, who live in the Bellefontaine area, Paula Streit, who lives in Idaho, and Randy Robb, who lives in Urbana.
Gayle’s daughter, Jill Irish, lives in Akron. Pat and Joe Yore’s daughter, Amy Yore with her husband, Jon Domachowski and two children, Dylan and Amanda, recently moved to West Liberty; and their son, Jamey Yore, lives in Orlando with his wife, Erin and two children, Carson and Shelby.
Mary Lou’s brother, John D. Hostetler, whose wife, Kathryn Penner is deceased, lives in Ephrata, Pa. His son, Richard is deceased and his younger son, Bob lives in Garnet Valley, Pa., with his wife, Lisa and three children. Mary Lou’s sister, Carol, whose husband, Emmett Yoder passed away April 23 of this year, one week before Mary Lou, lives in Punta Gorda, Fla.
Memorial service are at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 27, at Green Hills Foundation Hall, where friends may call an hour prior. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Green Hills Assisted Living Program, 6557 S. U.S. Route 68, West Liberty OH 43357.