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Mary Lou Cooley-Hechmer, 86, of Corning passed away Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, at her home in rural Corning. A Mass of Christian burial will be 11 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 6 at St. Timothy Catholic Church, 69486 Wichita Road, Cumberland. Burial will be in Reno Catholic Cemetery, Cumberland. Open visitation will be 3 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 5, with the Rosary said at 4:30 p.m. Family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. at Pearson Family Funeral Service & Cremation Center, 701 7th Street, Corning. There will be a wake service at 7 p.m. Memorials may be directed to the family, details to be determined at a future date. Pearson Family Funeral Service & Cremation Center is in charge of arrangements. Memories may be shared at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.
Mary Lou Cooley-Hechmer was born Nov. 22, 1933, in Cass County. The first daughter of John Martin and Mary Elizabeth (Lynam) Sullivan, she spent her early years at home. When she was a young teenager, her parents enrolled her in Ottumwa Heights Academy as a boarding student. She would come home summers and work for Pat and Nellie Jennings and helped Dick and Alice Anstey with their large family. She graduated high school at the Academy in 1951 and enrolled in Ottumwa Heights College to achieve her two-year teaching certificate in 1954. Everyone knew of her deep Catholic faith, so when a young Harold Eugene Cooley, Jr. (Gene) met, dated her, and decided she was the one for him, he secretly began taking instruction to join the Catholic Church, while serving in the military at White Sands New Mexico. Gene then proposed and they were united in holy matrimony Aug. 3, 1954, at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Reno. To this union six children were born with the family purchasing and moving to a family farm in rural Adams County in 1962 and becoming active members of St. Timothy and raising their children as part of the “Reno” faith family. After Gene’s death in 1995, Mary Lou married John Lawrence Hechmer Nov. 9, 2002, and lived for a few years in Canal Fulton, Ohio before they returned to Iowa and made their home back on the family farm. John passed away in 2007.
Mary Lou was a life-long learner and enjoyed people. She worked at the coffee shop in Corning the summers of her college years. She taught school in several communities before and after her marriage to Gene. Believing in community she assisted in founding a senior meal site in Adams County and became the first manager of the Corning Congregate Meals. She went back to school at Southwestern Community College and received an Associate Arts degree in office administration. She was a bookkeeper at Sorensen Grain Elevator south of Cumberland, an administrative secretary to the director of nursing at Mercy Hospital in Corning, an office assistant at the Adams County Extension Office, and a para-educator at Corning Elementary. She again focused on education as she became a certified activity director and shared her love of people in both Corning Nursing & Rehab Center and Villisca Good Samaritan Home. She and Gene were also avid volunteers and taught their children the joy and importance of giving back to their communities.
Mary Lou was the director of religious education for many years at St. Timothy Catholic Church as well as a catechist. She was a member of the Altar Society, a board member of Iowa Right to Life, Corning Public Library, Rose Ann Auxiliary, and Adams County House of History. She held leadership roles in the Adams County Republican Party, Corning Library Board, Eager Beaver 4-H Club and 4-H special projects.
Mary Lou is survived by her children: Mike (Dawn) Cooley of Orient, Bev (Steve) Keeler of Riverside, Dr. Mary Jo (Jeff) Cooley Hidecker of Laramie, Wyoming, Beth (Dan) Waddle of Corning, Jane Mack of Greenfield and Paul Cooley of Clarinda; step-children: Michael Hechmer, Thomas (Marilyn) Hechmer, Lawrence Hechmer, Paul (Tess) Hechmer, David (Katie) Hechmer, Catherine Hechmer, Carol Hechmer, Rita Hechmer; grandchildren: Anne (John) Goebel, Chad (Emily) Cooley, Scott (Meghan) Cooley, Kyle (Marie) Cooley, Michael (Crystal) Cooley, Dawna (Heath) Mitchell, Patrick Cooley, Mark Cooley, Ayla Hidecker, Mylanie Hidecker, Stephanie (Brent) Giles, Tamara Haley, Thomas (special friend Independance) Kibbe, Sarah (special friend Matthew) Mack, Ashle (Cliff) Holmes; six step-grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; sister Ellie Bane; special aunt Margaret Jacobs; many nieces, nephews and cousins; Beginning Experience friends; and other friends and family.
Preceding her in death are her parents; parents-in-law Harold Cooley and his wives; husbands Gene Cooley and John Hechmer; son Marty Cooley; son-in-law Richard Mack; step-daughter Teresa Hechmer; great grandson Noah Holmes.
The family thanks everyone for the love and support of all who have shared with us during our time.