CHAMPAIGN – Mary Anne Kesler died Wednesday (Jan. 3, 2018). She was born Oct. 30, 1923, in Urbana, the daughter of Bon and Anna Kirk.
She graduated from Champaign High School in 1941. She graduated from the University of Illinois in 1945.
After graduating from the U of I, she spent two years as the director of music for Cissna Park schools.
She married Clyde Kesler on July 20, 1947. They have two sons, two granddaughters and five great grandchildren.
Mary Anne served the community as a member of the board of directors of Cunningham Children's Home. She also judged flower shows throughout the state.
For years, she was an active member of Wesley Methodist Church, Urbana. And even after she could no longer attend regular worship services, her many wonderful friends from Wesley still visited with her.
Music, flowers and entertaining were Mary Anne's lifelong passions. She was a member of Sigma Alpha Iota professional music sorority and Pi Kappa Lambda music honorary. She was a Master Gardener and was a past president of the local Garden Club.
She loved to use her skills in flower arrangement and cooking to entertain friends and family. In fact, she couldn't wait, throwing half-birthday parties for her granddaughters before they were even 1 year old.
She enjoyed experimenting with different recipes and dishes. She made squash and peanut soups and served seaweed cookies.
Some of those recipes have been lost, but her recipe for cherry pie is still a family favorite and her daughter-in-law still makes her "secret" German Chocolate Cake recipe each year for Christmas dinner.
There will be no services at this time. Morgan Memorial Home, Savoy, is handling arrangements (www.morganmemorialhome.com).
http://www.news-gazette.com/obituaries/2018-01-05/mary-anne-kesler.html