It is with a sad, yet, thankful heart, that the family of Mary Kay(Sells) Kohler, announces her passing from this worldly life to a her new and wonderful and heavenly life on Friday, August 14, 2020.

Mary Kay was born on April 5, 1947, to Mr. Omer B. Sells and Mrs. Bertha Davis Sells, who both proceeded her in death. She was also proceeded in death by her older sister, Mrs. Maxine (Sells) O"Connell, of Victoria, Australia. She is survived by one younger sibling, Dr. Jack D. Sells, who resides in Dublin, Ohio, with his wife of 50 years, Mrs. Cheryl A. Sells.

Australia held a special place in Mary's heart as anyone who knew her would attest. Mary Kay had the opportunity to visit Maxine and her family there before Maxine passed. Mary Kay loved the land down under and had dreams of returning there to see her nieces and nephews where she would feel closer to Maxine, however, those dreams where not to be fulfilled.

Her immediate family was a little leery of Mary Kay traveling alone again to Australia, not just because of their concern for her safety, but for the fear that her love of animals would result in her being detained by customs officials for trying to sneak a Koala bear into the country. Such was Mary Kay's love for animals and her total disdain for anyone who would abuse an animal. If it were up to her animal abuse would be a capital offense.

Mary Kay was a 1965 graduate of Martins Ferry High School and attended Ohio University in the hopes of becoming an elementary school teacher, when a tragic automobile accident on the road back to Athens, Ohio, ended that dream. She did not allow that accident to keep her from going on to study floral design and working in local florist shops for years where her floral arrangements and displays lifted the hearts and spirits and brought joy and happiness to many.

Mary Kay also worked for many years in the Floral and Produce Department at Krogers, in St. Clairsville, Ohio, among other local Kroger stores in the valley. Some of the biggest joys she experienced were the friendships that she made with her co-workers at Krogers over the years. She dearly enjoyed those friendships and remembered them fondly for years following her retirement.

Mary Kay's family is truly saddened by Mary Kay's passing, but are extremely thankful that God did not allow her battle with Alzheimer's, and the dementia that accompanies it, to drag on for years and years, where there would be life without really living, as many other families have experienced.

Finally, Mary Kay's family has chosen cremation, rather than a traditional burial ceremony out of concern for others who may have wished to attend a regular funeral service, since most who may have attended were probably in the at-risk age group. Mary Kay would have wanted anyone who wished to show their respects to make a donation in her honor to any local Alzheimer charity of their choice, in the hopes that, one day, this scourge would be conquered!

A special thank you is extended to the staff; (from administration and management, to nursing and social work, housekeeping, dietary, laundry and other support staff) for the special care and kindness that they showed to Mary Kay during her stay at Part Health Center in St. Clairsville, OH. They are truly building for themselves treasures in heaven. God bless them all.

Private services will be held at the convenience of the family. Arrangements by Heslop Funeral Home, 415 Walnut St., Martins Ferry, OH. Online condolences may be expressed at www.heslop.com.

To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Mary Kay Kohler , please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.