Obituary of Marsha Bechtel

LABELLE - Marsha Diane (McKee) Bechtel passed away on Wednesday, Apr. 19, 2017, in Atlanta, Ga., from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Born Nov. 25, 1959, in Kittanning, Pa., Marsha was the daughter of James and Luana (Moorhead) McKee, of Worthington, Pa. She graduated from Worthington High School in 1977, salutatorian of her class. Marsha attended Penn State University and graduated in 1982 with a degree in Agriculture Education/Animal Bioscience. Marsha married Jeffrey Bechtel in July 1980. They moved to Florida over 30 years ago, where she began her teaching career at Community Christian School in LaBelle. She taught junior high science and math until the school closed in 2007. Two years later she became a teacher for the Hendry County School District, where she was currently teaching AP, honors, and general biology classes. She was an active member and elder at Life Ministries Church of LaBelle, in charge of children's ministries. Marsha loved working with children and animals, and spent over 25 years as 4H Leader for various programs in Hendry County, including the 4H Legislature Program and the Udder Fun goat club. She also found time in her busy life to be a Senior Independent Consultant for Pampered Chef. Marsha was a kind, caring, and gentle soul who devoted her life to her faith, her family, students, and the many friends she made along the way. She loved her life in Florida, but her heart remained in Pennsylvania at the farm where she grew up. Marsha was preceded in death by her brother, Steven McKee, Sr.; her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Agnes and Charles Bechtel; and grandparents, Tom and Ethel (Wagner) McKee, and Ken and Grace (Willison) Moorhead. Left behind to cherish her memory are her parents, Jim and Luana McKee, of Worthington, Pa.; husband, Jeff, of LaBelle, who she always described as her "knight in shining armor"; sons, Matthew (Jennifer) Bechtel, of Fort Myers, Peter (Rachel) Bechtel, of Anderson, S.C., Adam (Kimberly) Bechtel, of Tallahassee; daughter, Jessica Bechtel, of Anderson, S.C.; and the seven grandchildren, she adored, Hannah, Timothy, John, Clay, Elisabeth, Joanna, and Adalynn. She is also survived by four sisters, Debbie (Pat) Sallustio, of Dublin, Ohio, Jamie (Randy) Freeman, Jackie (Ken) Stitt, Amy (Russ) Walker, all of Worthington, Pa.; sisters-in-law, Carla McKee, of Worthington, Pa., Deborah (Rodney) Swank of Tamaqua, Pa., and Karen (Terry) Faust, of Allentown, Pa.; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends, all of whom will miss her forever. Marsha's favorite Bible verse was "I rejoice over you with singing" (Zephaniah 3:17). Her life will be honored at a memorial service at »(Do not delete this line. It does not print. Text that is to appear on web must be entered before this line)