METROPOLIS, Ill. — Mrs. Mary Ethel Cockrel, of Metropolis, Ill., was born May 22, 1914, in Ballard County, Kentucky. She was the daughter of John Herman Call and Maude Lee Joyner Call. She died Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013, at the age of 98 years old.

Mary Ethel became a Christian at an early age. She began teaching Sunday school at age 17 and was a faithful teacher for many years.

She was a member of First United Methodist of Metropolis, Illinois.

She married Wayne Cockrel on Sept. 2, 1934, at Charleston, Missouri. To this union were born two sons, Robert and Jon. On March 20, 1959, they opened their hearts to two foster children, Rose Marie and Fred.

She is survived by one son, Jon (Betty) Cockrel of Metropolis, Ill.; two grandchildren, Timothy (Beth) Cockrel of Bremerton, Wash., and Jill (Matt) Cobb of St. Louis, Mo.; two foster grandchildren, whom she loved as her own, David Riegel of Los Angeles, Calif., and Daniel (Lailah) Riegel of Benton, Ill.; five great-grandchildren, Ryan (Robin) Cockrel of Bremerton, Wash., Benjamin (Jennie) Cockrel of Poulsbo, Wash., Madeline Cobb, Nathan Cobb, and Ian Cobb, all of St. Louis, Mo.; two sisters, Evelyn Evans of Raleigh, N.C., and Reba Cornwell of Horseshoe Bend, Ark.; several special nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; son, Robert; foster daughter, Rose Marie Riegel; one sister and two brothers.

Mary Ethel was a prayer adviser for the Paducah Christian Women’s Club and a tireless worker for the Lord.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013, at the First United Methodist Church in Metropolis.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, at the First United Methodist Church in Metropolis. Rev. Jeff Bealmear will officiate. Burial will follow in the Metropolis Memorial Gardens.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 100 East 5th Street, Metropolis, Illinois 62960.