Mabel Ball-Pechta

Mabel Ball Pechta, 98, of Moran went to be with her Lord and Savior August 27, 2010 at the Mackinac Straits Hospital Long Term Care surrounded by her loving family. She was born on December 25, 1911 to Ephraim Alvin (Allie) and Lula Ellen Shipley Ball in Anderson, Indiana. She married Harry A. Pechta, October 11, 1935 in Toledo, Ohio and he preceded her in death December 24, 1991. Mable lived all her life in the Ozark, Moran area. She graduated from Sault Saint Marie High School. Mrs. Pechta attended Ferris Institute and taught school in Moran for one year. She and her husband Harry operated Pechta\'s Market and Hardware in Moran for 26 years. She was an active lifetime member of the Ozark Grace Brethren Church serving as treasurer for over 30 years. Mabel was an avid crafter. Her pictures, known as "Mabels", now reside in homes all over the United States. She enjoyed her garden and canned thousands of jars of vegetables, jams and jellies. She was named "Homemaker of the Decade" for 1974-1984 by the Mackinac County Fair and her yeast cinnamon rolls were renowned among friends and family. She was preceded in death by her husband Harry, her parents, brother Clyde Ball, and sisters Mildred Wells, and Edith Sherman-Steffen, and one grandchild Sean Murphy. She is survived by her sisters: Thelma Funderburg, Niles, Michigan; Gladys Malette, Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan; and brother, Alvin Ball, Trout Lake, Michigan. Mabel is survived by her children: Shirley (Gerald) Coleman, Mystic, Connecticut; Gayle (Robert) Murphy, Larwill, Indiana; Ross (Jon-Jay) Pechta, Hillsdale, Michigan; Allan Neil Pechta, Everett, Washington; and Vernon (Karis) Pechta, Lisle, Illinois; grandchildren: Natalie Coleman (Jeff) Wilkinson, Glenna Coleman, Melissa Coleman (Curtis) Higar, Erin Murphy (Stuart) Freimuth, Elizabeth Pechta (John) Kalusniak, Emily Pechta (Jeff) Wood, Laura Pechta, Jonathan Pechta, Steven (Amanda) Pechta, Meredith Pechta, Joni Pechta (Joe) Pirone; and sixteen great-grandchildren. Visitation will be at Dodson Funeral Home from 4-8 p.m., 240 McCann St, St. Ignace, Michigan, on Monday, August 30. Funeral Services will be at the Ozark Grace Brethren Church at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, August 31, 2010. There will be a visitation beginning at 10 a.m. prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to Ozark Grace Brethren Church, 22994S Church Rd. PO Box 212, Moran, MI 49760, or to the charity of the donor\'s choice.

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Mabel Ball-Pechta

August 27, 2010