Luella Mericle

April 19, 1928 - May 17, 2017

Lillian “Luella” Mericle, age 89, of Centerville, passed away on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, at the Centerville Specialty Care Center in Centerville surrounded by her family. Luella was born on April 19, 1928, to Adelbert Guy and Ida Marie (Jurgenson) Truex in Great Bend, Kansas. She graduated from Great Bend High School with the class of 1947. On October 15, 1950, she was united in marriage to Carl Mericle in Wichita, Kansas. To this union five children were born: Russell, Mark, Carla, Curtis, and Dan. Luella and Carl shared 45 years of marriage together until Carl’s passing in 1995. Luella was a homemaker for most of her life. She and Carl were charter members of the First Baptist Church in Albia which was established in 1964. They were very active in the church with Luella volunteering in the nursery and also working with the preschool children. Luella spent many years volunteering at Monroe County Helping Hands. She enjoyed cooking, especially baking pies and chocolate chip cookies. Her real joy in life was spending time with her family and friends, especially her grandchildren. Luella is survived by four children: Russell Mericle of Centerville, Carla (Harley) Rominger of Attica, Curtis (Dena) Mericle of Tucumcari, New Mexico, and Dan (Louise) Mericle of Centerville; eleven grandchildren: Dawn, Joshua, and Tyson (DeAnna) Rominger, Christian (Krista) Mericle, Luke, Levi, Hannah, and Rebekah Mericle, Jennifer (Robert) Jamison, Denise (Rob) Matherly, and Andrew (Arianna) Mericle. She is also survived by 13 great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Mericle; a son, Mark Mericle; her parents, Adelbert and Ida Marie Truex; a great grandchild, Matthew Robert Mericle; and two sisters, Virginia Deeds and Alberta Truex. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, May 22, 2017, at the Grace Tabernacle Baptist Church in Centerville, with Pastor Adam Standley officiating. Burial will follow the service at Hillcrest Cemetery in Moravia. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Sunday, May 21, 2017, at the Tharp Funeral Home in Albia, with Luella’s family present throughout to greet family and friends. A memorial has been established to Care Initiatives Hospice.