Mary Elizabeth Ackerly Koehler

Mary Elizabeth Ackerly Koehler passed away at home on Sunday, March 5, 2017 from the complications of advanced age. Born on January 2, 1922, she was 95 at the time of her death. She loved her family, and was a great wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend.

Born in Huntington, NY, the second child of Grace Palmer Ackerly and Gilbert Platt Ackerly Sr., she grew up on the family farm in East Northport, Long Island, NY. Following her high school graduation, she attended Pratt Institute in NYC and graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree as a dietician, and began working at Presbyterian Hospital in NYC. She also attended the Methodist Church in Greenwich Village and was active in the Wesley Foundation. Many within that group became lifelong friends, and it was there that she met Donald C. Koehler, who had moved from Illinois to work at the Bell Labs in NYC. They were married on June 1, 1946 in East Northport, NY.

Mary and her husband, Don, eventually moved to Livingston, NJ, where they started their family of four children. They were active members in the Methodist Church, and involved with a group of young families that also became lifelong friends. Job transfers within the Labs led them to live in several other communities, including Fair Haven, Chatham Township and Holmdel, all in New Jersey. Always involved in a church in these communities, Mary became an Elder in the Matawan Presbyterian Church while living in Holmdel.

Mary served as a Den Mother in the Cub Scout program in which both of her sons were involved, and she and Don were very involved in the AFS (American Field Service) program and had a student from Sweden for a year and with whom she maintained a relationship and welcomed additional students for shorter stays. While the youngest son was in high school, Mary returned to school and earned an Associate Degree as a Library Assistant. Part of that schooling also included taking Spanish, which led to a month spent in Ecuador, including a family stay. She was involved in the Meals-on-Wheels program.

Travel, both at home and abroad, sometimes camping along the way, was a lifetime activity for Mary and Don, beginning with their honeymoon. It was something that she’d never foreseen in her future, but felt privileged to be able to do. Even after her husband’s death in 1984, she continued to travel, and provided opportunities for her children and grandchildren to travel, as well.

She moved to Athens, GA in 1991 to be near a daughter and extended family, and became involved in the community through being a member of First Presbyterian Church and volunteering with the St. Mary’s Auxiliary. She also enjoyed playing bridge, attending Learning in Retirement classes and concerts at UGA and other venues.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Koehler; siblings, Ruth Tierney and Gilbert Ackerly Jr.; and nephews: Gilbert Ackerly III and Steven Klockner. She is survived by her four children: Nancy Brown (Jimmy) and Wendy Arthur of Athens, Robert Koehler (Karen) of Londonderry, NH and William Koehler of Alpharetta. She is further survived by AFS son, Hans Brandstrom of Visby, Sweden; three granddaughters: Erin Arthur and Marie Arthur of Port Washington, WI and Julie Koehler of Cambridge, MA; and a great-grandson, Andrew Arthur of Port Washington, WI; sisters-in-law: Flora Ackerly of East Northport, NY and Joan Klockner (Richard) of Hendersonville, TN, as well as nieces, nephews and friends. She will be sorely missed.

The family wishes to thank Rebecca Hill and Compassionate Care Hospice for their involvement in our mother’s care over the last two years; they were both blessings.

A Memorial/Celebration of Life Service will be held at First Presbyterian Church (185 E. Hancock Ave., Athens) on Friday, March 31, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. with an organ prelude preceding the service. Interment will occur at a later date in Warsaw, IL.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be offered to First Presbyterian Church or Compassionate Care Hospice.

Online condolences may be offered at www.bernsteinfuneralhome.com.

Bernstein Funeral Home and Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements.