Mary Ellen York

Mary Ellen York, 91, of Palestine, IL, passed away January 17, 2022, in the comfort of her home, surrounded by her family. She was born November 23, 1930, in Palestine, the daughter of Walker & Edna (Schifler) McCoy. She grew up in Palestine and was a 1948 graduate of Palestine High School. She would further her education at the Julia F. Burnham School of Nursing in Champaign, IL, earning a degree in nursing in the process. She married Lynn York on July 14, 1951, and the couple spent the first season of life together in Terre Haute, IN, where she worked as a nurse at Union Hospital while he was studying at Rose-Hulman. Though his work moved their young family back and forth between California and Florida, Melbourne, FL was where they felt most at home. Here, she and Lynn became charter members of the Presbyterian Church of the Good Shepherd. While Lynn took on a leadership role, Mary Ellen taught Sunday school and sang in the church choir. Anyone blessed enough to hear this precious soul sing could attest to her vocal talent. Her soaring soprano not only glorified God in Sunday worship but was also enjoyed in thirteen musicals put on by the Indian River Players. She was also a skillful French Horn player and was privileged to tour Europe with the Melbourne Municipal Band in the mid-1960s. During this tumultuous period of America's history, she helped fight for civil rights through the Community Action Agency for Brevard County, with which her church was partnered. It was through the church that she found a love for backpacking and camping. In fact, she and Lynn endeavored to hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail and also volunteered to do their part to maintain the Florida Trail. Her love of the outdoors was also evident in her fondness for bicycling and her interest in birds. Not only could she identify a bird by sight, but she could also pick them out by their birdcall. What's more, she was able to sing that same birdcall back, right on pitch. After her children were all of age to attend school, Mary Ellen entered the nursing field once more. Still, no matter how busy life got, no matter how many extra-curricular activities she and her family had to balance, dinner would always be ready at 5:30 sharp. She nurtured her family through her cooking and baking; this much was obvious. Mary Ellen would spend days preparing for Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, where her yeast bran rolls, fruit cakes, and sugar cookies all made a welcome appearance. What's more, the latter two delicacies were shared every year with many of her family members and friends. For years, she also took the time to embroider Christmas ornaments for her loved ones, and these have become treasured heirlooms that will be cherished for years to come. Upon moving back home to Illinois in 1998, Mary Ellen became involved with a number of area organizations, such as the Crawford County Home Extension and the Current Topics Club. She was also active with the Palestine Preservation Projects Society and was instrumental in the restoration of the Fife Opera House, where she sang for the Teeny Tiny Tea Party every year. Her singing was also a welcome addition to the Palestine First Presbyterian Church. Just because we can no longer hear her voice does not mean that her song is over. We are thankful that, by the grace of God, we will sing His praises alongside our beloved Mary Ellen again, both soon and forevermore. She is survived by her children & their spouses, Vicki & Charlie Alger (rural Robinson), Nancy York (Palestine, IL), Marcia Mick (Palestine, IL), Philip York & Charlenea Zimmerman (Flat Rock, IL), and Tim York (Cobden, IL); by her grandchildren and their spouses, Dr. Susan & Ryan O'Donnell (Tallahassee, FL), Diane & Bill Horn (Topeka, KS), Roger Mick (Vero Beach, FL), Kyle & Laura York (Flat Rock, IL) and Zebulon & Rachel York (Hindsville, GA); by seventeen great-grandchildren; by her brothers, Jim McCoy and Dan McCoy; by her special niece, Sarah "Sally" Shepherd; as well as several other nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Walker & Edna McCoy; by her sister, Janice "Pill" Klein; by her beloved husband and partner of 60 years, Lynn York; and by her granddaughter, Regina Smith. A time of visitation will be held from 12:00-2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 22nd, at the Palestine First Presbyterian Church. Funeral services will immediately follow and be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday at the church, with Pastor Karen Russell officiating. A live stream of Mary Ellen's service will be available on Goodwine Funeral Homes' Facebook page or by going to https://www.goodwinefuneralhomes.com/live-stream/live-stream . Burial will be in the Palestine Cemetery. Memorials may be made to either the "Palestine First Presbyterian Church" or to the "National Audubon Society". Envelopes will be available at the church. The Goodwine Funeral Home in Palestine is in charge of arrangements.