Mary Ellen (Handley) Schlegel
Marriages
Wes Schlegel - April 30, 1953
Burial Details
Obituaries
Vail Daily page A9 - May 12, 2008
Mary Ellen Schlegel passed away on May 9.
She was born to Howard and Clara Handley on April 6, 1932 in New Lisbon, Indiana. Her parents moved to California, where she graduated from High School, then worked for the phone company. She then followed them to Burns, Colorado, where she met and married Wes Schlegel, on April 30, 1953.
Together they raised 4 sons and 2 daughters of their own, among a few other friends and relatives. Mary quickly adapted to ranch life by raising a garden, sewing, canning, and preparing a hearty meal for all. She was a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 195. Not very many young girls grew up in Burns, without having been taught 4-H sewing, by Mary.
A special handmade gift was always looked forward to at Christmas, by her family. Mary took a lot of pride in being at as many of her kids’ and grandkids’ activities, whether it was at 4-H week, sports activities or rodeos. Most Sunday’s you could find her attending the Burns Baptist Church. In later years she enjoyed frequent trips to visit family and yearly trips with the Eagle County Seniors.
She is survived by 2 daughters: Janice Price (Lou) and Melinda Hammer (Steve) and 4 sons: Bill (Jill), Sumner (Karen), Rod (Jackie), and Randy (Sherri). They have given her 18 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. She is also survived by 1 brother, Russell Handley and 3 sisters, Merle Thomsen, Joan McCraken, and Rose VanLeer and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Wesley Schlegel, her parents, 3 brothers and 1 sister.
A funeral service will be held in McCoy, CO on Wednesday at 11:00am, at the McCoy School Gymnasium. She will be laid to rest next to her husband at the McCoy cemetery.
