Mary Ellen Esch Wilkening grew up in the Mid-West and visited her aunts, uncles and cousin in her father's home town of Washington, Illinois many times as a child. Her father, Gladden Howard Esch grew up on a farm near Washington and the Gingrich farm. He enjoyed telling stories of life on the farm when he was a boy. Mary taught kindergarden and first grade for twelve years, performed on cello for thirty-three years with the West Valley Symphony and as a free-lance cellist. She currently teaches cello in her home studio. She lives with her husband Stuart in Litchfield Park, Arizona. She has three children and ten grandchildren.