CENTRALIA — Betty Merkel, 82, of Centralia, died February 18, 2023, at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia.
She was born on April 20, 1940, in Centralia, the daughter of John and Maurine Wheeler. She married David Featherling on February 6, 1963, in Centralia and later divorced. She married Finis Merkel Sr. on June 6, 1982, in Caseyville, IL and he proceeded her in death.
Besides both of her husbands and her parents, she was proceeded in death by a newborn son, Joseph and a granddaughter, Debbie Hamburg.
She is survived by one daughter, Becky (Featherling) Elliott and husband Duane of Centralia; and one sister, Mary Jo Featherling of Centralia; four grandchildren, James Elliott and Wife Cathy of Dalmatia, Pennsylvania; Michael Elliott and wife, Marah of Germantown, IL; Jennifer Melton and husband, Press; and John Elliott and wife Casie both of Centralia; one grandson-in-law, Jeff Hamburg of Centralia; two nephews, Mark Featherling and wife, Lynn of Centralia; and Michael Featherling of Springfield, IL; one niece Cathy Faulkner and husband Norman of Centralia; and eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild, all of which were the greatest joy of her life.
She work many years at Hollywood Candy Factory and retired from St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia where she worked in Dietary. She enjoyed traveling, quilting and painting, but nothing gave her more pleasure than spending time with her family.
Betty was a lifetime member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Centralia but attended Cornerstone United Methodist Church with her family for the last few years of her life.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at Cornerstone UMC on Thursday at 4 p.m. Instead of flowers, the family would appreciate memorials to Cornerstone UMC or Centralia Southtown Shalom Food Pantry — two things that were of great importance to Betty. The Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home at 235 North Sycamore Street 62801 618-532-3523, is honored to be of service to the Merkel family. Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting sutherlandfuneralhome.com or the Funeral Home’s Facebook page.