Ella MECOUCH

MECOUCH, Ella (Waldek) 82, of Pinellas Park, passed away peacefully April 17, 2013. She was preceded in death by husband, James. She is survived by daughter, Jackie (Scott) and granddaughter, Katherine. Ella was born in Custer, Washington on Dec. 2, 1929 and had an adventuresome life. Born to immigrants (German and Russian), she spent her earliest years on a farm outside of Spokane, Washington. She began working to support her family at the young age of 10 as a waitress. After spending time in a Catholic convent, she worked as a mechanic for the Air Force on B-24 Liberator bombers. She later became a roller derby professional working as a "Jammer". Traveling the circuit she "discovered" wrestling and became one of the most successful lady wrestling figures during the Golden Age of Wrestling (1950's thru 70's) even winning the world championship. After wrestling she worked as a security guard, a private detective, head of security for a store chain and eventually started her own successful landscape company and plant nursery. She was on the board of directors for the Cauliflower Ear Club. A private memorial will be held later.