Julia Ann Howe Mechem

Julia Ann Howe Mechem, 87, of Nelsonville, passed away January 24, 2024, at her home. She was born November 6, 1936, in Logan, Ohio, the daughter of Ralph Charles and Amy Belle Finsterwald Howe. Julia was married to Wm. Mark Mechem who survives.

She was a graduate of Nelsonville High School, Class of 1954 and a member of the National Honor Society. She was a graduate of St. Francis-St. Anthony Hospital School of Nursing, Class of 1957, and studied at the Ohio State University and Ohio University. She was among the first Registered Nurses to be employed at the Southeast Ohio Tuberculosis Sanitarium. She taught the first classes at Hocking Technical College to prepare students to take the licensing examination. In 1968 she was employed by the Nelsonville-York City Schools as a certified State of Ohio School Nurse, a job she held for almost thirty-five years.

She was a member of the Nelsonville High School Alumni Association and served one term as its president.

Julia is survived by her husband, Mark; grandsons, Joseph David DeVore of Nelsonville and William Eugene DeVore of Lancaster; nephews, James Kerr, Mark Oakley, Greg (Cathy) Oakley, Timothy (Melissa) Oakley, and John (Mary) Oakley; sisters-in-law, Jane Mechem and Leesa Anderson; and daughter-in-law, Jody Cirigliano.

She was preceded in death by her son, David Howe DeVore; first husband, David Morgan DeVore, sister, Margaret M. (Clarence) Kerr, sister-in-law, Dorothy DeVore Kunzman; niece, Linda Hill; nephew, Joseph Kerr; father- and mother-in-law, the Rev. William A. and Mary Catherine Mechem.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on Monday, January 29, 2024, at the Souers-Cardaras Funeral Home, 46 Fayette St., Nelsonville. Interment will be in Greenlawn Cemetery, Nelsonville. Family and friends may visit from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm Monday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation to the Nelsonville High School Alumni Association Scholarship Fund or a charity of your choice.

Please sign her online guestbook at www.cardaras.com