Mary R. Kesler

Mary Eleanor Reich Kesler, 91, died at Hock Family Pavilion Hospice House in Durham on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. She was born on March 29, 1935, to the late Lillian Marie Kirk and Carl Wesley Reich.

Mary graduated from Durham High School and earned her B.S. in nursing from Duke University. She went on to earn her M.S. in nursing from UNC Chapel Hill, graduating in the first class in the new Family Nurse Practitioner program. She also obtained a minor in Adult Education.

Her lifelong career included extensive teaching experience, examples include a nursing assistant training pilot program for the American Red Cross, the student nurse program at NCCU, and continuing education for RN’s. Mary was a supervisor at Hillcrest Convalescent Center, established and provided care at both Carolina Meadows Retirement Community and the Durham County Jail. She also served as part of the medical administrative staff at the Substance Abuse Center in Butner, NC and in private practice in Granville County.

Mary was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Chapel Hill. She loved to teach and was active in various leadership and teaching roles with her church.

Mary is survived by her daughter, Karen Elaine Kesler Terrell and spouse, Jeffrey; her sons, Kirk Loren Kesler, Michael William Kesler and spouse, Rene’; as well as seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Lt. Col. William Earl Kesler (killed while in a B-52-crash in Orlando, FL on March 31, 1972.

A funeral service for Mary will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, April 21st in the chapel of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service, 1113 West Main St. Durham, NC 27701. Her graveside service will be held later that day at 2:00 pm at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, 1621 NC 55 Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526.