Helen Yoder Gochnauer

GOCHNAUER, Helen Yoder ,88 of Gorin, Missouri passed from this life with son James by her side on Fri. June 19th, 2015 at the Scotland Co. Care Center in Memphis, Missouri. This followed a fall in April which resulted in a broken femur (upper leg bone) and later an infection (MRSA) set in. Helen Marie was born Mar. 29th, 1927 to Cephas J. and Bernice B. (Weldy) Yoder of Nappanee, Ind., the 2nd of three children. After local schooling, she attended at Eastern Menn. School in Harrisonburg, Va., and according to her roommate and another friend, completed her Jr. and Sr. years there.

She came to Florida (with four other "girls") in Jan. of 1950, and met Norman Gochnauer of Lancaster Co., Penn., they marrying Aug. 26th, 1951. They were involved from its early years in the inner city mission work at Buffalo Ave. / College Hill Menn. Church in Tampa, where they raised their three children. After 30 years there, being asked to leave CHMC, they for a time visited other Menn. churches prior to placing their membership and regularly attending at Sarasota Menn. Church. After close to 46 years of marriage Norman passed away Aug. 1st of 1997. On May 1st of 2007 she relocated to Missouri, where she lived next door to her daughter and family. She attended Cornerstone Menn. Church in Memphis, MO on a regular basis while still able to drive. Helen was a homemaker who enjoyed working with her hands, including cooking, working in the garden, and making a quilt for each of her children and grandchildren. She had a consistent life for her Lord. Along with her parents and Norman, she was preceded in death by her brother Jay E. Yoder and wife Marilyn, sisters in law; Madonna Yoder, Mary Gochnauer, Esther (and Christian) Metzler and Dorothy (and Walter) Hess, brother in law Elvin Gochnauer, daughter in law Linda Yutzy Gochnauer, and granddaughter Naomi G. Schrock (and stillborn son Addison).

Surviving is one brother, Allen K. Yoder (Lynn) of Clemmons, NC, daughter Judith (Edwin) Herr of Gorin, MO, sons; James of Plain City, OH, and Wayne of Tampa, Fla, brother in law Kenneth Gochnauer (and Wanda) of Lancaster, Pa., sister in law Beulah Slaymaker of Sorrento, Fla., plus fourteen grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. A visitation will take place on Tue. evening from 6 to 8:00pm, and on Wed. June 24th, a 1:00 p.m. viewing is to be held prior to the 2:00 p.m. funeral service at Garden of Memories Funeral Home - Tampa, in charge of the Sarasota Menn. Church ministry. Burial to follow beside Norman in the adjacent GOM Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, as an expression of sympathy a Memorial is suggested for Cornerstone Mennonite Church of Memphis, MO. or Sarasota Mennonite Church of Sarasota, Fla.