Marjorie Schmehl Stienecker, 86, a resident of Otterbein St. Marys Retirement Community, St. Marys, died in the early morning of Dec. 21, 2014.

She was born on her family farm east of St. Marys on Jan. 27, 1928, to Louis and Marie Hoffman Schmehl. Her parents had just purchased the farm in November 1927. She was the third oldest child. In August 1948, she married Virgil Stienecker, who is deceased.

Surviving are two daughters, Kathy (Ned) Lawler and Noreen Stienecker, both of St. Marys; seven siblings, Mary Coby, Celina, Carol Raymond, St. Marys, Dorothy Peffley, Fort Meyers, Fla., Jane Thomes, St. Marys, Louise Davis, Celina, Robert (Dottie) Schmehl, New Bremen, and Alice Carpenter, New Knoxville; a grandchild, Jason Stienecker; great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews and their families

Deceased are a son, Ron Stienecker, and five brothers-in-law, John Raymond, Bob Thomes, Wayne Coby, Chuck Peffley and Jim Davis.

She was a 1946 graduate of St. Marys Memorial High School. She attended Capital University in Columbus, where she studied parish/social work. Her first position was in Cleveland at Parma Lutheran Church. She and her husband lived in Cleveland for a year. Having both lived in St. Marys since they were born, they didn't care for the city and moved back to their hometown.

She was devoted to her family and her church, Zion Lutheran Church, St. Marys, where she had served as a Sunday school teacher for many years. She held many positions in the women's group and was one of the first women to serve on the church council. She sang in the choir when she was young and in the praise team later in life.

She attended Trinity Lutheran Church in Florida during the winter months. She was a home communion distributor and served on the evangelism committee.

She loved children and whenever a need arose, she was always there to help someone behind the scenes. Early in life she was a den mother for Cub Scouts and a Brownie Mother.

She was a multi-talented person, having worked as a professional artist and an accomplished seamstress. She did beautiful needlework and quilting, loved flower gardening and arranging flowers, and was a good photographer. She could see the beauty around her through her artistic gifts.

She didn't take up art until shortly before she retired. She did portraits, still life and landscapes in watercolor, pastel, oils and pen and ink. She also taught art workshops at Wright State University-Lake Campus and at Otterbein Saint Marys. Her students were always her friends, and she loved seeing their talents blossom. She was proud of her many first place awards and several best of show awards locally and in state completion.

She worked at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, St. Marys, in the accounting department and later in human resources. She was also the plant photographer and edited the plant newsletter for several years.

Her mature years were spent as part of the Otterbein Community, which she grew to love as home. She cherished all her friends there and grew especially close to her sister, Carol Raymond. They were Otterbein's "Schmehl Sisters."

Rites are 1 p.m. Saturday in the Meyer Community Chapel at Otterbein St. Marys, the Rev. Bill Maki officiating. Her cremains will be buried in Elm Grove Cemetery, St. Marys.

Calling is 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at Otterbein. Miller Funeral Home, west chapel, St. Marys is handling the arrangements.

Memorials may be given to Zion Lutheran Church, St. Marys, or the Otterbein Benevolent Fund.

Condolences may be sent to www.millerfuneralhomes.net.