Mary Lou (Yarnell) Gochenour

Mary Lou Gochenour, 81, passed away in Meridian, Idaho, on Sept. 1, 2005 at the home of daughter Bonnie Coon. At the time of death, Mary Lou was surrounded by her three loving daughters, Judy Hansen, Linda Starkey, Bonnie Coon, and Saint Luke�s Hospice nurse Chris Faulk.

Mary Lou was born Sept. 6, 1924 to Thelma Marie (Baugh) Yarnell and Harry Yarnell in Pocatello. She attended school in Fort Collins, Colo., Lima, Montana and Pocatello, Idaho, graduating from Pocatello High School in 1942. She attended summer school at Idaho State University and worked at Old General Hospital on West Center Street in Pocatello. After graduating, she went to work at the Pocatello Air Base civilian hangar, where she met Lt. John A. Gochenour.

After a short courtship, John and Mary Lou married on Aug. 12, 1944 and were together for 54 years. They both left for service duty when the base closed in January 1945. They spent time in Greenville, Texas, Arkansas City, Kansas and Abilene, Texas before returning home to Pocatello. They spent summers at their Island Park cabin and winters in Mesa, Arizona with their many friends. They owned Pocatello Telephone Answering Service from 1961 through 1974, when Mary Lou retired.

Mary Lou was active in Job�s Daughters, Newcomers Club, PTA, Carpenters Auxiliary, scrapbook class, and Bible study. She attended Central Christian Church in Pocatello and a Christian Church in Mesa, Ariz. Recently, she became a member of Church of the Rock in Nampa, Idaho, and was baptized by Reverend David Akins in 2004. She was an avid reader, enjoyed going to movies, visiting her children and grandchildren, and eating Chinese food at the Golden Star Restaurant.

She is survived by her three daughters, Judith Hansen, Linda Starkey and Bonnie Coon; her grandchildren Brik Starkey, Joni Miller, Allison Woods, Taggart Hansen, Ann Eason and Walter Coon; and her great-grandchildren Carmen and Theo Hansen, Emma, Logan, and Landon Eason, Abigail and Samuel Miller and Kelsey Richardson. She was preceded in death by her loving husband John , her parents, two sisters, one brother, and a very special Aunt "Bo," Vera Parks.

Interment will be at Mountain View Cemetery in Pocatello. We are grateful to St. Luke�s Hospice team for their care and support, and to Church of the Rock for their unending love and prayers during this difficult time. We would also like to thank all those who visited Mary Lou during her final days. She was always aware of the circle of love that surrounded her. Memorial services will be held at 6:30 p.m Friday, Sept. 23, 2005 at the Church of the Rock in Nampa, and at Mountain View Cemetery in Pocatello on Saturday, Sept. 24. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Luke�s Hospice in Boise, Idaho, or to Church of the Rock in Nampa. Arrangements are by Aclesa Chapel and Tribute Center.