Marian Koch

Marian Koch, nee Hancock, died peacefully on January 7, 2024.  She was 100 years old. Marian was born in Harrisburg, Illinois. She is a descendent of the Warner/Lewis family of Virginia, an adventurous founding family that counted patriots, explorers and statesman in its ranks. She graduated from Harrisburg High School in 1941, and during the war years attended Blackburn Junior College and the University of Illinois. She taught high school in Illinois, then married Lee Koch and they moved to Beaumont, where they raised their four children. After earning her Master’s in Education, she taught third grade at Pietsch Elementary in Beaumont. In 1954, Mr. and Mrs. Koch became charter members of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian church. This year marks 70 years of membership.

Mrs. Koch lived a life of Christian service, with leadership roles at Some Other Place, Christmas Bureau/Empty Stocking Fund, March of Dimes and Church Women United. Even in her later years, she was recognized in the grocery store by those she helped at Christmastime. Marian cared deeply about ensuring women’s and children’s health and rights were protected. Her volunteer efforts ranged from teaching prenatal nutrition to teen mothers, to sending a shipload of soybeans to Africa, to alleviate hunger there. She was a long-time member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha service sorority. She received the American Institute of Public Service’s Jefferson Award in 2001, for her lifetime of volunteer service.

The Kochs liked driving vacations, and traveled to all 48 contiguous states, Mexico and Canada.  They often spent summer vacations hiking in the mountains, especially in Colorado.  At the age of 86, she fell into Lake Superior while taking a photo, and found it “refreshing”.

Marian is survived by children, Susan Farris of Springtown; Jeanne Cobb and husband, David, of Houston; and son, Jimmy of Beaumont. She is preceded in death by her husband, Lee; parents, Earl and Florence Hancock; three brothers, Quentin, Steve and Philip; and son, Gordon.

A gathering of Mrs. Koch’s family and friends will begin at 1:00 p.m. in the parlor with her memorial service at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, January 18, 2024, at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 1350 North 23^rd Street, Beaumont. Her ennichement of her will follow in the Memorial Garden of the church.

The family would like to recognize and thank the “Dream Team”, for their loving care of Marian in her final years:  Belinda Dill, Sherrill Mayes, Murlon Haynes, Dorothy Henry, Veronica Leslie and Ronda Broussard. Thanks also to Dr. Ahmad and Altus Hospice for their care in her final days.