SPENCERVILLE — Mary Lou Degen, 80, of rural Spencerville, passed away peacefully in her home at 9:45 AM Saturday, September 30, 2017 with her children at her side following a long battle with cancer.

She was born February 2, 1937 in West Manchester, Ohio, a daughter of Kenneth and Bernadine Schmidt Harbison, who are deceased. On June 8, 1957 she married Clarence Otto "Sonny" Degen, who died September 27, 2014.

Surviving are her five children; Randy (Jackie) Degen, Jeff (Lori) Degen and Theresa (Mark) Lee, all of Spencerville; Chuck (Beth) Degen of St. Marys and Brenda Bockey of Delphos; 10 grandchildren; Beth (Andy) Williams of Akron; Mary (Roberto) Serna of New York City; Joe Solomon of Delphos; Abbie Lee of Spencerville; Ryan (Melissa) Degen of Lima; Matt (Angelique) Degen of Medina; Kelsey Degen of Bowling Green; Seth and Hannah Bockey, both of Delphos: 5 great grandchildren; Izzy & Kat Williams, Kadyn Degen; Olivia Degen and Mateo Serna: and her in-laws; Jim (Lyn) Degen of Botkins; Fred Degen and Janice (Rex) Dershem of Lima.

Preceding her in death are her sister; Judy(Russell) Louth; her grandson Andy Lee; her in-laws; Otto C. and Jenny Paglow Degen and her brother-in- law; Don Degen.

Mary Lou was a 1955 graduate of Spencerville High School and a member St.Patrick Catholic Church in Spencerville. As a homemaker, her true love was to be with her family in what ever they did.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM Tuesday in the St. Patrick Church with Father Daniel Johnson officiating.

Burial will follow in the Spencerville Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 2 until 8 PM Monday and from 9 until 10 AM Tuesday at the

Thomas E. Bayliff Funeral Home in Spencerville.

Memorials may be made to the St. Rita's Hospice or to Lifeline of Ohio in care of the funeral home.

Condolences may be sent to tbayliff@woh.rr.com