Mary Koch

Mary Agatha Cummings-Koch passed away peacefully in Lafayette, Louisiana on December 22, 2018. She was born in Dresden, Kansas on September 17, 1920, the daughter of Richard Joseph Cummings and Elizabeth Dempewolf. Mary had two adopted siblings: Cornelius, who died in Norton, Kansas in 1932 at the age of 13; and a sister, Dorothy Louise Cummings-Mason, who died in 1991. Mary grew up during the Depression in the 1930s and attended five different high schools in Kansas as her parents moved often to find work.

Mary attended Kansas State University and graduated in 1943. While at college, Mary met Alfred Joseph Koch. World War II interrupted Al's Studies, but letters during the war played Cupid and the couple were married after the war on June 18, 1946. During the war years 1943 to 1946, Mary taught secondary school in Emmett and Downs, Kansas. Their honeymoon was spent re-registering Al at Kansas State University, so he could finish his college. After completion of his studies, the couple moved to Phillipsburg, Kansas where Al worked for the USDA Soil Conservation Service. Mary and Al moved to Atwood, Kansas in 1950, where they raised their three children and greatly enjoyed living in Atwood for 45 years. Mary was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Altar Society.

They moved to Houston, Texas in 1995 to be near their daughter Elizabeth. Al died there in December 2011. Mary moved with her daughter Elizabeth and son-in-law Tim Hebert* to Lafayette, Louisiana in 2013, where she became part of the extended Hebert Cajun clan.

Mary is survived by her three children Mary Ann, Elizabeth, and Richard; sons-in-law Doug Smith and Tim Hebert, and grandson Ward Thomas, his wife Tanya, eight great grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild, and her Lafayette family, June McGinn, Nell Cowan, Erin and Bret Beyer, their children Chris, Nich, and Cassie; and Lisa and Damon Beyer and families.

Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 4, 2019, in the Mt Calvary Cemetery in Atwood, Kansas, which is surrounded and sheltered by evergreen trees planted by the Koch family. The family wishes to thank the people of Atwood, Kansas and Lafayette, Louisiana for their friendship and kindnesses through the years. In lieu of flowers, contributions could be made toward to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For condolences or information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com