Mary Scheel, a resident of Carson Valley for the past seven years passed away New Years Day. Mary was born in Grand Island, Neb. on February 5, 1930, daughter of Helen and Herman Eberl. Married to Louis Scheel in 1949; Mary bore and raised four children, Mary Patryce Belanger of La Conner, Wash. Douglas Scheel of Los Osos, Calif. and Louis David Scheel of Atascadero, Calif. Douglas' twin brother, Denis, preceded her in death, as did her only brother Donald Eberl. She is survived by Louis, three grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
While raising the children the family lived in Grand Island, Omaha and Columbus, Neb., then prior to moving to Minden, spent 21 years in Monterey, Calif. Mary joined the staff of the Community Hospital of Monterey, where she advanced to the final position of supervisor of the Patient Data Processing Department. Retiring in 1984 from the Community Hospital, Mary then became office manager of the family business, AUTOFLITE Mfg. The business was sold in 2000, at which time Mary and Louis retired to Carson Valley. Mary was an avid reader, and hated leaving behind thousands of books (her personal library) when the move to Carson Valley no longer provided room for them. She reluctantly reduced her collection to about a thousand books.
Mary was a strong advocate of animal rights and protection, and she worked energetically supporting the Reno Zoo, Animal Ark, several SPCAs including those in Grand Island, Monterey, Reno, Gardnerville, and the national headquarters. She also was a supporter of the Moss Landing Elkhorn Slough Foundation in Moss Landing, Calif.
Mary will be put to rest in the Carmelo Cemetery of Pacific Grove, Calif overlooking the entire Monterey Bay. FitzHenry's Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.