In Memory 2014

N. Maude CRAWFORD

Vivian E. MECHLING

Betty L. CIPPEL

Sara M. (CAREY) McILVAINE

Edward (Ned) Anthony MECHLING III

N. Maude CRAWFORD

N. Maude (MECHLING) CRAWFORD, 89, of Kittanning, died on Sunday, January 26, 2014 at the Armstrong County Health Center.

She was born on June 4, 1924 in Kittanning to James Kelly MECHLING and Maria (HODGSON) MECHLING.

Retiring from Big River Manufacturing Company, she enjoyed shopping and was devoted to her family and enjoyed her walks in the Cowanshannock with her sisters.

She is survived by her two daughters: Diane CRAWFORD and Karen CRAWFORD – both of Kittanning; her son: Ed (Connie) CRAWFORD of Cowansville; two sisters: Nellie Pauline (MECHLING) COGLEY and Peggy Jane (MECHLING) CALANO and husband Benjamin; twin sister: Salome Mildred (MECHLING) SHEASLEY and husband Kenneth; brother: James Bradley (Jean) MECHLING; sister-in law: Vivian MECHLING; grandchildren: Ed & Jessica CRAWFORD, Chad & Dena CRAWFORD, David & Jason JORDAN, and Nichole & Joseph FINK; great grandchildren: Ashley CRAWFORD, Marley & Chase CRAWFORD, and Logan JORDAN; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband: Leroy CRAWFORD on February 16, 1965; a brother: Kelly Calvin MECHLING; a sister: Lois Vivian MECHLING-HILL; and brother-in-law: Beryl (Tom) COGLEY.

Friends will be received from 2-4 and 7-9 PM on Wednesday, January 29, 2014 in the Snyder-Crissman Funeral Home in Kittanning. A funeral service will be held Thursday at 11AM with the Reverend John Snyder officiating. Interment will take place in the Worthington Presbyterian Cemetery.

To send an online condolence, please visit: www.snydercrissman.com

Vivian E. MECHLING

Vivian E. (RUPERT) MECHLING, 89, of Ford Cliff, died Friday, February 14, 2014, in the VNA Inpatient Hospice, Butler.
Born August 21, 1924, in Ford Cliff, she was a daughter of the late Fred, Sr. and Ruth (Pepper) RUPERT.

Mrs. MECHLING was a homemaker, and a member of Appleby Manor Presbyterian Church. She enjoyed playing bingo, puzzle books and watching game shows, and loved cats and dogs.

She is survived by her daughter, Jacqueline (Richard) HOGUE of Ford Cliff; four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and a sister, Wilma CREEL of Ford Cliff.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Kelly C. MECHLING, and her brother, Fred RUPERT, Jr.

Friends will be welcomed from 2-4 and 7-9 PM on Sunday, February 16, 2014 in the Welch Funeral Home in Ford City, where services will be held at 11 AM on Monday, February 17, with Rev. Wendell Flick officiating. Interment will follow in Lawn Haven Burial Estates. To send an online condolence, please visit www.welchfh.com.

Betty L. CIPPEL

Betty L. CIPPEL, 83, of Ford City passed away at her residence on Saturday, March 22, 2014.
She was born in Kittanning on November 18, 1930, a daughter of Lawson and Elsie (KUNSELMAN) MECHLING. She was a lifelong resident of the community. She was retired from ACMH after many years of service.

She was a former member of Holy Trinity Church and a member of Christ Prince of Peace Parish. She enjoyed shopping, garage sales, decorating, and spending time with her sisters and family.

Betty is survived by her son: Mark and Lori CIPPEL of Ford City; daughters: Carla and Andrew VARGA of Queensbury, NY and Deborah and Michael MILLER of Bryan, TX; grandchildren: Marty, Benjamin, and Katie step-grandchildren: Curtis and wife Kara MILLER and Kevin MILLER; step-great-granddaughter: Avey; and good friend Shermin WICKLINE. She is also survived by her brothers: James MECHLING of Sugar Grove, PA, Kenneth and Pat MECHLING of Irvine, PA, Barbara FREDERICK of Russell, PA, Gale Freeman of Kittanning, and Carol and William STOVER of Manorville.

She was preceded in death by her husband: Rudolph J. CIPPEL, whom she married on November 7, 1953 and died on March 20, 2010; sister: Delores SALSGIVER; brothers: Jack MECHLING, and Gary MECHLING.

Visitation will be held from 2-4 and 7-9 PM on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at the Mantini Funeral Home in Ford City, where a Prayer Service will be held on Wednesday at 10:30 AM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday at 11AM at Christ Prince of Peace Parish, celebrated by Father Bryan Summers. Interment will take place in Holy Trinity Cemetery.

Sara M. (CAREY) McILVAINE

Enjoyed working in her garden

Sara M. CAREY McILVAINE, 81, passed away Monday, February 24, 2014, in Sebring, Fla.
She was born October 3, 1932, in Independence Township, a daughter of the late Robert and Minnie (MECHLING) CAREY.
Mrs. McILVAINE attended Southside Baptist Church, Sebring. She was active in the Highlands Social Center and the senior center in Bentleyville.
She loved working outside in her yard, garden and with her flowers. She loved her cat, Dimitri, and also enjoyed RV camping and traveling. She especially loved spending time quietly rocking in her chair and watching the birds and squirrels.
Surviving are a daughter, Grace WILSON (Jeffrey) of Taylor Mill, Ky.; a sister, Betty MYERS of Bentleyville; a brother, Hugh CAREY (Mildred) of Monongahela; and many other extended family members.
Deceased, in addition to her parents, are a brother, Robert CAREY; her two husbands, Thomas SQUIRLOCK and Charles McILVAINE; and her companion, Claude MUSIK.
Friends will be received from 9 to 10 a.m., the time of services, Monday, March 3, in Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home, Sebring, Fla. Burial will follow in Lakeview Memorial Gardens, Avon Park, Fla. Memorial contributions may be made to Highlands Social Center, 2400 Sebring Parkway, Sebring, FL 33870.

Edward (Ned) Anthony MECHLING III

Sadly and with a great loss to this community, Ned MECHLING passed away at his home on July 8 from complications arising from a recent surgery.

He was born on Jan. 6, 1970 in Baltimore, Maryland to Annie Reid MECHLING and Edward Anthony MECHLING II. He attended the University of Delaware where he studied criminal justice and played college rugby. Ned was an outstanding high school athlete and excelled in football and baseball at the Caravel Academy in Delaware. He continued to play baseball and rugby well into his thirties for teams in the Roaring Fork Valley. He became well-known and loved as one of the areas best raft guides working for both Whitewater Rafting and Rock Gardens. He was best known professionally as the greatest “lawn guy” in the valley. Ned started the company “Perfect Turf” with his wife Kim almost twenty years ago and had successfully built the largest, most respected lawn maintenance business in the valley.

His love of people and life extended to every one he encountered from any age, occupation and background. He was also an avid skier in his earlier years and in the last ten years became “the guy” to snowmobile with. He acquired many nicknames over the years but the one that stuck was “Nedly”. He was also known to help anyone for any reason at the drop of a hat. His two girls, Charlie and Maddie, were the light of his life and the source of his never-ending drive to success.

Ned is survived by his wife Kim MECHLING, his daughters Charlie and Maddie MECHLING, his mother Annie Reid MECHLING, his brother Jesse MECHLING, Jesse’s wife Adela and Ned’s nephew Rafael. Ned is also survived by aunts, uncles, cousins and too numerous friends to mention.
A celebration of Ned’s life will be held Wednesday, July 16 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the private property on Prehm Ranch. Prehm Ranch is located at the end of Midland Avenue past the rodeo grounds and the airport to a gated entrance. The gates will open at 5:30 p.m. Guests are asked to please park at the rodeo grounds and take the shuttle service provided by Glenwood Canyon Resort to Prehm Ranch. If you prefer to walk, wear comfy shoes. Food, Budweiser (of course) and live music will be provided. All ages are welcome and the celebration is open to the public. Very casual attire please!
Prehm Ranch is on the Roaring Fork River, so bug spray, sunglasses, blankets and chairs are good ideas. Tents and chairs will also be provided.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Ned MECHLING Benefit Account at Alpine Bank. All proceeds will go towards Charlie’s and Maddie’s educational pursuits.

Friends and family are remembering longtime Glenwood Springs resident, former raft guide and “greatest lawn guy” Ned “Nedly” MECHLING as an all-around good person who had a way of making people smile.
MECHLING, 44, who owned and operated Perfect Turf landscaping and lawn care with his wife, Kim, died unexpectedly July 8 of complications arising from recent colon surgery.
A public memorial and celebration of MECHLING’s life is planned for 5:30 p.m. today along the banks of the Roaring Fork River at the Prehm Ranch just south of the Glenwood Springs Municipal Airport.
Anyone planning to attend is asked to park at the old rodeo lot next to the airport between 4:30-5 p.m. and either take a shuttle provided by Glenwood Canyon Resort or walk the 0.8 miles to the ranch. The memorial service will start promptly at 5:30.
“Perfect gentleman. Always a kind word and infectious smile,” wrote Jacque Mcmillan on a Facebook page, “The friends and family of Ned MECHLING,” which was dedicated to his memory.
“Such a great guy, always put a smile on my face,” added Patty Grace. “My heart goes out to his family.”
MECHLING is survived by his wife and two daughters, Charlie, 16, a student at Glenwood Springs High School, and Maddie, 12, who goes to Glenwood Middle School. Both girls are competitive swimmers for the Aspen Speedos swim club.
Longtime local swim meet director Deanna Colaizzi wrote on the Facebook page that she could also count on Ned to help as a volunteer timer at his daughters’ meets.
“He was always good for a laugh or two as well … you will be missed by many,” she wrote.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been set up at Alpine Bank in Ned MECHLING’s name to help with his daughters’ future educational pursuits.
Tony Thompson, president of Alpine Bank in Basalt, was a friend of MECHLING’s going back many years to when they played recreation league softball together.
“He just had a big personality and would do anything for anyone,” Thompson said. “He wouldn’t have wanted flowers, he would want to give something to his girls and their education.”
Kim and Ned MECHLING had been together for 19 years, since they met while both were rafting guides at Rock Gardens in No Name. They started Perfect Turf together, a business that grew significantly over the years, she said.
“The guys have been working triple overtime this past week trying to keep up, so a big thanks to them,” she said.