Phyllis E. (Sutherland) Koehler

Phyllis E. Koehler, 92, of Mt. Pleasant, passed away Tuesday, March 13, 2018, at Bethlen Home, Ligonier. She was born Aug. 23, 1925, in Monessen, the daughter of the late Joseph and Florence (Schuler) Sutherland. Phyllis was a loving mother of five children, as well as an accomplished artist. She started her art career as a graduate of the Ad Art Studio in Pittsburgh and was employed as a fashion artist for Steketee Department Store based in Grand Rapids, Mich. She continued and developed her personal art interests studying with leading watercolorists and exhibited her work in many regional and national shows: Knickerbocker Artist Exhibition, New York, and Aqueous Open, Pittsburgh, to name a few. For 30 years, Phyllis participated in juried festivals to show and sell her watercolor paintings; Westmoreland Arts and Heritage Festival in Greensburg, Three Rivers Art Festival in Pittsburgh, Ann Arbor Summer Festival in Michigan and Ponce Inlet Fine Arts Show, Florida, are just a few among many. Her work can be found in numerous professional permanent collections which include Children's Hospital, Pittsburgh; Franklin Regional Medical Center, Franklin; and Latrobe Hospital, Latrobe; as well as in many private collections. Phyllis was a member of the Pittsburgh Watercolor Society, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Watercolor Society, Greensburg Art Center and Whiskey Painters of America. She was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church, Mt. Pleasant. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Kevin H. Koehler, in 2011; and a brother, Joseph Francis Sutherland, and his wife, Peggy. She is survived by her husband, Herbert G. Koehler Jr.; daughter, Maura Koehler Keeney and husband Daniel, of Latrobe; three sons, Michael F. Koehler and wife Annette, of Mt. Pleasant, David G. Koehler, of Blairsville, and Brian J. Koehler and wife Marsha, of Mt. Pleasant; daughter-in-law, Aleta "Cindy" Koehler, of Mt. Pleasant; five grandchildren, Jennifer Parsons, Sean Koehler, Michael Koehler and wife Janine, Matthew Koehler, and Caitlin C. Santone and husband Joseph Politz; a great-grandchild, Elliana; and a brother, Clyde Sutherland and wife Betty, of Monongahela. There will be no visitation or viewing. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, March 19, 2018, at St. Pius X Catholic Church, Summit and South Silver streets, Mt. Pleasant. Please go directly to the church. LEO M. BACHA FUNERAL HOME INC., Pleasant Unity, is assisting with arrangements. The family would like to give special thanks to Heartland Home Health and Hospice, Bethlen Home in Ligonier and Bethlen Home Health Hospice. Memorial contributions may be made to Greensburg Art Center, 230 Todd School Road, Greensburg, PA 15601. www.bachafh.com.

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