Mary Catherine Bechtel

With heavy hearts, we share the passing of our beloved Mary on March 12, 2025. She was born on December 20, 1959, in Biloxi, Mississippi and spent her life as a devoted wife, mother, Yaya, sister, aunt, and friend - always putting the needs of her loved ones before her own.

She graduated from Beavercreek High School in 1978 and married her high school sweetheart Casey on September 20, 1980.

Mary’s greatest joy in life was her family. They raised their four precious children together in their dream home in Beavercreek. Her children Kristie (Matt), Kevin (Conor), Kara (Jonathan) and Kelsey (Tim) were her life and she poured her entire heart into raising them. Her love only grew as she welcomed her beloved grandchildren, Maddie, Kalee, Catherine, and Charlie Passage, Colt, Jake, Taylor and Caleb Twehues and Parker Bechtel-Doyle whom she adored beyond measure, taking every opportunity to plan fun events and photo shoots with them.

Mary’s love extended to her 5 siblings, parents, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews. She loved sending cards to loved ones and checking in with all her friends, book club, and the Noble Circle community, offering support for those battling cancer, all while fighting her own fight with ovarian cancer for fifteen years.

She loved to travel and was always planning her next big adventure. She enjoyed traveling across the world to explore places like Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Switzerland, Greece, Costa Rica, and South Africa.

Lake Cumberland held a special place in her heart, and some of her happiest moments were spent there with Casey and the Cumberland crew on their houseboat and lake house.

To know Mary was to love her. She brought warmth, kindness, and a touch of mischief into the lives of everyone she met. Her unwavering spirit and selflessness shone brightest in the way she uplifted others, even during her own struggles.

We thank Mary’s numerous nurses and doctors from her time at Kettering Medical Center and The James Cancer Center at Ohio State, who have all shared of their friendships and love of her. She was tougher than tough, sweeter than sweet.

She is preceded in death by her father, Robert Hamilton and her beloved mother-in-law, Sharron Bechtel. Though our hearts ache with this loss, we find comfort in knowing she is now reunited with those she loved and missed.

Mary, Sugar, Mom, Yaya—your love was the greatest gift, and we will carry it with us always. In Mary’s honor, raise a margarita at sunset and toast to a life beautifully lived.

An Open House Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at the Presidential Banquet Center from 1:00pm to 5:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Noble Circle, https://www.noblecircle.org/, in support of those bravely battling cancer.