Lori Ann Mehl

Lori Ann Mehl, 10/4/1962 to 10/7/2017, Lori was born to Edward and Lorraine Mehl in Elizabeth, NJ. She was the youngest of five; her oldest and only brother John Mehl (Diana Mehl), and her sisters Betty Ann Mehl-Gilch (Joe Gilch), Donna Mehl (Sandy Zambeto), and Jody Higgins (Kevin Higgins). She loved and adored her niece Jamie Mehl Gory (Kehi Gory), nephew Jarrod Mehl (Zaneta Mehl), nephews Tyler Higgins and Shawn Higgins, great nephews Alexander and Daniel Mehl, godparents Hank and Elaine Wazeka, and her only surviving aunt Erna Quillen. She leaves too soon her wife, Kate Mehl. Anyone who knew Lori knew her family was large, diverse, and not defined by blood. The term “framily” surely was coined exactly for her! If you met her, she insisted that you become part of her family.

Lori’s immediate family lived in Carteret, NJ, and moved to Sayreville, NJ in 1971. As a family they loved to roller skate competitively - giving a new meaning to “Mehl’s” on Wheels. Lori’s love of music began early, and she played the piano and organ beautifully. However, if you had the chance to hear her, you know that her most beautiful instrument was her voice! Lori graduated from Sayerville War Memorial High School in 1980, and went on to Westminster College in Pennsylvania. Her father passed at age 57, and Lori left college to return home. Eventually she chose to pursue a career in ultrasound technology, and after obtaining her degree and credentials moved south to the warmer climate that Florida offered. She also worked as an EMT at one time.

We cannot imagine the sheer number of patients whose lives were saved and changed by Lori’s skills as an ultrasound technologist - she specialized and focused her significant talents in finding and detecting the smallest of breast cancers. She worked at Boca Raton Community Hospital (Boca Raton, FL), Overlake Hospital (Bellevue, WA), and Baptist Health at the Hill Breast Center (Jacksonville, FL). Lori also taught ultrasound to students in Florida (UDS) and Pennsylvania (Northampton Community College).

For years, Lori sang with a wonderful group of women through Sweet Adelines, an international barbershop organization.

She met her wife, Kate Mehl, and immediately knew she was “the one.” They were together 17 ½ years. Lori liked to share that they celebrated multiple anniversaries. Lori and Kate flew to San Francisco, CA and on March 9, 2004 and became married when then Mayor Gavin Newsom had permitted the City Clerk to issue same sex wedding licenses. Two days after their marriage the California Supreme Court ordered a halt to the practice (after nearly 4,000 licenses had been issued) and on August 12, 2004, the Court unceremoniously voided all of the licenses that had been issued in February and March.

In 2012, the state of Washington permitted same sex marriages. The couple waited, though, until the end of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 2013; Lori and Kate obtained their license and were married three days later at Seattle’s Gay Pride June 30, 2013; and as they often said, with thousands of their brightest, gayest friends in attendance! In Washington, that marriage “related back” to the date of their domestic partnership registration on August 3, 2009.

Anyone who knew Lori knew her “happy place” was the beach. She could not simply walk BY the edge of the water. You knew it would not be too long before she was IN the water. Whether beachcombing, shell gathering, playing in the surf or sitting in the sand listening to the sounds of the waves, Lori was always at peace there.

Lori loved puppies and babies! She leaves behind her two “fur babies,” Diego and Lily, but was surely met by childhood dog Heidi, the singing schnauzers Mickey and Minnie, and mini schnauzer Crockett at the Pearly Gates.

A more kind and pure soul one cannot find. We are better for having had Lori with us, no matter how short our time was with her on this earth. While Lori has transitioned from this physical plane, she will be forever with us spiritually, in our hearts and minds, and in our loving memories as the bright and shining angel the Lord has called home.

A visitation will be held this Friday from 6-8 pm at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 729 S. Edgewood Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32205. A Celebration of Lori’s Life and Faith will take place on Saturday, October 14 at 3 pm at Avondale United Methodist Church, 1651 Talbot Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32205. The family asks that you wear bright, happy colors to the Celebration, and shorts and flip flops are strongly encouraged!.

An account has been created by Kate toward researching neuroendocrine endocervical cancer under Dr. Michael Frumovitz. To this end, and In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: MD Anderson Cancer Center, PO Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486. Please include that the gift is in memory of Lori Mehl.

When using the website www.mdanderson.org/gifts, please select the “honor a loved one” tab and under the billing information please select the checkbox that says “I would like to choose where my donation goes”. Once selected, please select the “Fund designated by family” option from the drop down box.

Cancer sucks.