Mary Ellen Eichman

Mary Ellen Eichman died on March 31, 2015 in Cottonwood, Arizona after a battle with ovarian cancer which was diagnosed and aggressively treated by Dr. Kevin Wilson, Dr. Mike Janicek, and Dr. Pamela Miel. Mary was born in Baraboo, Wisconsin to John Hoff and Florimel Schenck Hoff. Mary was predeceased by her parents, her brother Allan and his wife, Kathleen Hicks Hoff. She is survived by her sister, Jeneane (Darell) Phalin; her daughters, Julia (Gregg) Reed and Toni Degner-Muniz; her son, Michael (Shari) Eichman; her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, cousins, nephews, nieces and many friends. Mary graduated with the class of 1959 from Janesville High School and attended UW-Whitewater. She worked in quality control at Capital Plastics and Parker Pen and was the first bakery manager at Kohl\u0027s Food Store in Beloit, Wisconsin. Mary worked at Rock County Social Services as a financial advisor for clients, then the District Attorney\u0027s office where she compiled the annual budget and federal reimbursement requests. After moving to Arizona in 1980, she worked at the Mesa YMCA and retired as a Police Records Shift Supervisor for the City of Mesa. Mary was a life-long volunteer, starting at age 16 with teaching Sunday school at non-denominational and Methodist churches. She was a member of the Janesville, WI Literacy Council as a Lau Bach tutor for adult readers and a volunteer for the Friends of the Library in Mesa, AZ and Cottonwood, where she also served on the board for several terms and prepared the donated books for sale in the boutique. Mary sang and served on the board for the Milton Choral Union, the oldest singing society in the Midwest, where membership varied from 400 to 800 singers for the winter concerts. Mary established a food stand at the Rock County 4-H Fair in Wisconsin which continued to be a church fund raiser for decades. Mary volunteered at the Verde Valley Medical Center, Habitat for Humanity Restore, Verde Valley Caregivers and for the Cottonwood mayor. She served on the city Judicial Review Board, Library Board and Board of Adjustment. She supported the arts through Yavapai College, Verde Voices and other musical groups. Mary donated to the Verde Valley Humane Society, Clemenceau Museum, and several local food pantry groups. County Supervisor Chip Davis honored her with the Unsung Hero Award after nomination by Barbara Litrell. She received a Certificate of Accomplishment from the Northern Arizona Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging after nomination by Mayor Diane Joens. Mary was awarded Appreciation Certificates from Verde Valley Caregivers, the Cottonwood Public Library and Cottonwood Mayor Diane Joens. Mary was ecumenical in religion and welcomed in many local churches; she was baptized Seventh Day Adventist. Mary will sleep in final rest in the Sedona Community Cemetery after preparation by Westcott Funeral Home. Her wish for no formal funeral services is being honored. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice. An online guestbook is available to sign at www.westcottfuneralhome.com