Mary Ellen Kerchal

Mary Ellen Kerchal, 60, died Monday (Oct. 20, 2003) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.

She was born Aug. 30, 1943, in Seward County. She was adopted as an infant by Walter J. and Lucille (Traphagan) Middleton. She attended school in Oxford, graduating from Oxford High School in 1961.

On March 9, 1962, she married Larry Johnson in Holdrege.

On Nov. 27, 1987, she married Eldon F. Kerchal in Fort Collins, Colo. The couple made their home in Palisade where she continued to live until her death.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. WJ Middleton, grandmother, Mary Traphagan, and several aunts and uncles.

Survivors include her husband, Eldon of Palisade; daughter, Jill Collins and husband, Jim of Amsterdam, N.Y.; son, Jeff Johnson of North Platte; special aunt, Delores Gettman of McCook; best friend, Mary Ellen Best of Oxford; step-children, Steve and Linda Kerchal of Wauneta; Dave Kerchal of Wauneta; and Ronda Bischoff and husband, Bill of Wauneta; her ex-husband, Larry of Kearney; three grandchildren, Kylee and Nicki Harris and Shawn Collins, all of Amsterdam and four step-grandchildren, Justin Kerchal of Kearney, Jenae and Logan Bishoff of Wauneta and Jessie Kerchal of rural Palisade; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Services are Friday, 10 a.m. (MST), at St. John's Catholic Church in Wauneta with the Rev. Greg Pawloski officiating. Interment is in Riverside Cemetery in Wauneta.

Visitation is Thursday, 2-6 p.m. (MST), at the funeral home in Wauneta.

A memorial has been established in her name.

Liewer Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.