Mary Ellen (Kilgore) Oetjen

February 10, 1938 - April 15, 2022

Mary Ellen (Kilgore) Oetjen, February 10, 1938 – April 15, 2022 Mary started her life defying the odds by surviving childhood polio. She was one of 12 children who grew up on a Shelby County farm. Upon graduation she took the path less traveled by a young lady at the time by moving to St. Petersburg, Florida where she met and married Herman Oetjen, Jr. Military service took them to Okinawa and Turkey for assignments and they traveled many places during those times. They retired to Indiana where Mary continued her education receiving a master’s degree in Vocational Rehabilitation. She worked at Goodwill Industries helping the disabled. Her favorite hobbies later in life were watching her grandchildren and attending their recitals, dances, plays and sporting events. Visitation will be Sunday, April 17, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Heather Hills Baptist Church, 1421 N. German Church Road, and Monday, April 18, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at 10:00 a.m. at Shirley Brothers Washington Memorial Chapel, 9606 E. Washington Street. Mary is survived by her husband, Herman Oetjen, Jr.; daughter, Cindy Oetjen; son, Trey Oetjen; daughter-in-law, Lori Oetjen; grandchildren, Caleb (Taylor) Oetjen, Madison (Matthew) Beaty, Noah (Mallory) Oetjen, Josiah Oetjen, Hope Oetjen, Isaiah Oetjen, Angela Oetjen and Elijah Oetjen; great-grandchildren, Jackson, Emmalyn, Selah and Wesley; and sisters, Barbara Kent, Carol Jones and Freda Linville. She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Lucy; brothers, Joseph, Willis, Kenneth, Phillip and Donald; and sisters, Judy, Joan and Martha. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the M.O.M. House, Heather Hills Baptist Church, 1421 N. German Church Road, Indianapolis, IN 46229.