Mara Brown

On July 8th 1968, a child was born to Earl and Peggy (Bilbow) Bechtold at Nesbitt Hospital in Kingston, Pennsylvania. This child was named Margaret Mary Bechtold, but became known to her family and friends as Mara. Mara was raised in a military family and was familiar with moving, making new friends easily, but never forgetting old friends.

Mara graduated from Immaculata High School in 1986, The University of Kansas in 1990 and earned a Master of Arts Degree in Education from the University of Phoenix in 2001. Mara loved her teaching assignments and always had fond memories of her students and fellow teachers. She continued to substitute teach while raising her family and was happy to be a room mother, attend PTA meetings, car pool her kids to many different activities and was never too busy to help anyone in need. Mara was selfless always putting other’s needs before her own.

In 1995 she met her best friend, Steve Brown, also a graduate of Immaculata High School in 1981. Mara and Steve were married on October 25th 1997 at Scared Heart Church in Leavenworth Kansas. Their marriage was blessed with four beautiful children, Riley 14, Mary Cate 12, Eleanor 10 and Sam 8.

On August 13th 2015 Mara passed away unexpectedly at her home in Austin Texas. Her family and friends will always remember her beautiful smile, generous nature and devotion to her Roman Catholic Faith. Mara and her family lived their faith which included morning prayers, bedtime prayers and attending Mass Saturday evening at St. Thomas More Parish in Austin Texas.

Mara was preceded in death by her brother Chip Bechtold and Father-In-Law Tom Brown. She is survived by her husband Steve and their children; parents Peggy and Earl Bechtold and Mother-In-Law Grace Brown of Leavenworth Kansas; brother Mark and wife Brooke Bechtold and children Matthew, Aidan and Stella of Chicago, Illinois; sister Megan and husband Craig Skinner and children, Sophie, Isabel and Eli of Lexington, Kentucky; nieces Kassie and KaCee Bechtold, children of deceased brother Chip. Mara will be greatly missed by a loving and caring extended family and friends.

A funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, August 18, 2015 at 10:30 am at St. Thomas More Catholic Church.

To share your memories and condolences with Mara’s family, please visit www.cookwaldenchapelofthehills.com