Mary Sue Kehtel

Mary Sue Kehtel

1940 -2019

Mary Sue Kehtel, age 78, passed away on January 17, 2019. She was born in Horatio, AR on March 21, 1940 to Jim K. Coffman and Orphie Ward Coffman.

A servant and mother to many, Mary was a true giver; a big teddy bear, she loved deeply and without hesitation would make sacrifices for those around her. Her long, beautiful fire-engine red hair was an outward representation of how bright and passionately her spirit burned to care for others and how deeply she loved. Her children, Kenny and Celynda, could not have asked for a better momma; she was always there for her kids. The only thing greater than her love for her family and others was her love for the Lord; Mary served faithfully in her church in many capacities, but she is remembered most for her work in the nursery. To Mary “Blood may be thicker than water, but love is thicker than blood”, and she believed and taught to love no matter the differences, because true love does not discriminate. From her youth, she had a passion for taking care of children and babies; a second mom to so many, “Mawmaw” touched a lot of lives and had many “adopted” children and grandchildren. An amazing cook, she passed her skills on to her son Kenny, teaching him to cook many of her recipes. Fried cornbread, beans and rice and the occasional poke salad, if it did not kill you, were staples for family, but she also loved to bake and had a world-famous butter cream frosting. Mary had flowers on top of flowers and was always working in her flower beds. She loved her dogs, and spoiled them, feeding them bacon and eggs for breakfast. Mary’s love and caring spirit will be missed by all those she loved, but she is in Heaven, most likely whipping up one of her famous cakes.

Left to honor her memory is her loving husband of 56 years, Kenneth Earl Kehtel Sr.; son, Kenneth Earl “Kenny” Kehtel Jr. and wife, Stacey, of Wildwood, TX; daughter, Celynda A. Kehtel and partner, Mary C. Layton, of Warren, TX; brother, Jim K. Coffman Jr. and wife, Tonie, of Jasper, TX; aunt, Oma Jean Watson of Burkeville, TX; “adopted” grandchildren, Matthew Hatch, Michael Hatch, Mason Hatch, Conner Coke, Brayden Stewart, Malachi Coke and Vayda Coke; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents; brother, Thomas Richard Coffman; sister, Judy A. Hartley; and brother-in-law, Philip Hartley.

Visitation with family and friends will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Sunday, January 20, 2019, at the Wildwood Baptist Church, 101 Wildwood Dr., Village Mills, TX. Mary’s life honoring service will be at 11:00 a.m. at Sycamore Cemetery, County Rd 2110, Burkeville, TX, with Bro. Jimmy Linn officiating. Burial will follow at the cemetery.

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