Mary Ellen Traxler

Mrs. Mary Ellen Traxler was laid to rest beside her late husband Frank Traxler, on Wednesday, September 11, 2013. She passed away on May 6th in San Diego, CA at the age of 93. Mary Ellen Gogerty was born on March 31, 1920 in Bismarck, ND. She was the eldest child and the only daughter of Julia and John Gogerty. She graduated from Mandan High School in 1938 and in December 1941 received her R.N. degree from Ancker Hospital School of Nursing in St Paul, MN. She was united in marriage to Frank Traxler on February 22, 1942 in St. Paul, MN. In 1961 Mrs. Traxler received her B.S. in Nursing Education from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis and began teaching classes of nurse aides at the Moose Lake State Hospital. She continued her psychiatric nursing career in Colorado and Arizona eventually settling with her husband in Salem, OR. Mrs. Traxler received her Master’s Degree in Education while in OR and taught for several year at Chemeketa Community College in Salem. The Traxlers enjoyed several years of camping retirement until Mr. Traxler passed away in 1989. At this time, Mrs. Traxler moved to San Diego to be near her daughter Karen. She is survived by her two daughters: Karen Mitchell and her husband Richard of San Diego, CA, and Judith Curtis and her husband Bill of St. Louis, Mo; two grandchildren and one great granddaughter. Reverend Laurie O’Shea officiated a private graveside service on Wednesday, September 11th at the First Lutheran Cemetery in Rush City. Arrangements for Mrs. Mary Traxler are entrusted to the Funeral and Cremation Service – Olson Chapel of Rush City.