Mary Ellen Welch

Mary Ellen Welch of Cape Girardeau died peacefully Friday February 7, surrounded by her family at Ratliff Nursing Care where she had resided for several years. She was born in Cape Girardeau March 19, 1939, to William and Geneva Goodwin. She was raised by her uncle, Al Halter, from the time she was two years old. Mary Ellen attended St. Mary Grade School and graduated from St. Mary High School in 1957. She married John G. Welch on February 8, 1958. The couple would have celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary the day following her death. Mary Ellen worked in retail for several years at K-Mart, was a homemaker and assisted with the couple’s business of Welch Construction and Supply and J.R. Welch Waterproofing. She was a member of St. Mary Cathedral, the St. Mary School Board, the St. Mary Church Council and was a Cub Scout leader, a Brownie and Girl Scout leader and also was a volunteer at Saint Francis Medical Center. Mary Ellen loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren She especially loved camping at the family’s cabin on Lake Wappapello and vacations to Florida for many years as their family grew. Mary Ellen is survived by her husband, John; three children, John R. Welch of Cape Girardeau, Julie (Marty) Platz of Jackson and Joe (Tori) Welch of Cape Girardeau; her grandchildren, Jacob Welch, Ashley Sparkman, Brittni Baker, James Allmon, Dalton Welch, and Hunter Platz; her great-grandchildren, Abagail Baker, Ella Sparkman, Serenity Allmon, Peyton Baker, Callie Baker, and Vera Grace Sparkman. She is also survived by a half-sister, Debbie Tretter of DeSoto, Missouri. She was preceded in death by her parents, her uncle and a great-grandson, Tristen Allmon. Visitation will be 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm Thursday, February 13, 2020 at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home, with parish prayers followed by Knights of Columbus #1111 Rosary at 7:00 pm. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 am Friday, February 14, 2020 at St. Mary Cathedral with the Rev. Allan Saunders officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery in Cape Girardeau. Memorials may be directed to St. Mary Cathedral or to a charity of choice. The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff of Ratliff Nursing Care and Legacy Hospice for their excellent, loving care of Mary Ellen. Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.

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Mary Ellen Welch

March 19, 1939 - February 7, 2020