Mary Ellen Kehoe

On November 19, 2024, Mary Ellen Houghton Kehoe, “slipped the surly bonds of Earth…….and touched the face of God.”

Born on June 7, 1925, Mary was the daughter of Everett C. and Ilo Grace (Seymour) Houghton. She spent most of her youth in Plymouth, Indiana then moved to Monticello, Indiana, where she graduated from high school in 1943. After high school Mary returned to Plymouth and On August 31, 1947, she married Donald C. Kehoe, with whom she shared 57 years of marriage. Don preceded her in death on December 17, 2004.

Mary’s three children, Linda, Bruce and Susan (deceased), were the center of her life, but once Linda & Bruce were in school, she took Don’s Driver Education class, got her first driver’s license, and began her data processing/keypunch training at Porter Business School in Indianapolis. She worked at Amos Plastics during her time in Edinburg, Indiana, and then the Richmond Bank when the Kehoe’s moved to Centerville. Both she and Don were active members of the Edinburg Methodist Church and the Centerville Christian Church. 

One of Mary’s passionate interests has always been sports. As a youth, she loved swimming and played GAA basketball and volleyball. She carried that interest in sports into adulthood and was an avid supporter of the teams Don coached. She tried to watch every golf match Tiger Woods played, and well into her 80’s could recite the names and stats of most pro football and basketball players, especially the Colts and Pacers. She was also a serious Cubs fan. In her leisure time Mary became an accomplished golfer, winning a flight championship at Glen Miller, was in a bridge club and a craft club, was a member of Tri-Kappa, and offered her time and talents to work with the church shut-ins and nursing home residents. There were many fun activities in Mary’s life, but her favorite pastime and greatest joy was being with Patrick and Jason, her grandsons. 

Her love for children, her generosity of spirit and her enthusiasm for life have endeared Mary to many, but when we look back on her life, we mostly remember her strength of will and tenacity. Life wasn’t always kind, but Mary met each challenge with courage and grace, rising like the Phoenix, as her family called her., to face another day.

Mary is survived by her daughter Linda K. Robbins (Bruce) and her son D. Bruce Kehoe (Sherri), grandsons Patrick and Jason Kehoe, both of Indianapolis, as well as her chosen-daughter Sally Houze Meserole (Brooke) from Wilmington, NC; Also surviving her are granddaughter Lori (Craig) Costa and children Jackson and Jaime of Noblesville; Anne Robbins and children Beau, Guinee and Gabby of Carmel; grandson Nick (Ashley) Reed and son Brayden of Carmel; granddaughter Kacie (Andre) Forte and children Avi and AZ of Indianapolis. She is also survived by her 95-year-old sister Ruth (John) Patterson from Marion Indiana, and numerous nieces and nephews whom she loved.

Preceding Mary in death were her parents, husband Donald, daughter Susan, brothers Bill, Don and Dick Houghton and sister Josephine Snyder Klinedinst.

Visitation will be held at the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St, Plymouth, IN 46563 from 12:00 to 1:00 pm January 11, 2025. A Celebration of Life will follow at 1:00 pm. Burial will take place in the New Oak Cemetery, Plymouth. 

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be given to the Indiana University Health Hospice Program, Suite 700, 950 N Meridian St. Indianapolis, IN 46204 or to the ALS Association, 9449 Priority Way West Drive Suite 130. Indianapolis, Indiana 46240.