Jennie Elizabeth Merkle, age 86 of Montezuma, Ohio passed away on July 30, 2017 at the Berger Health Care Center in Circleville, Ohio.

She was born on Oct. 19, 1930 in Montezuma, to the late Ralph and Lucy Helen (Ritchie) Long. On April 1, 1951 she married Lewis Merkle, who died on June 7, 2009.

Survivors include her son Mark & Jennie L. Merkle of Circleville, daughters and sons-in-law Sondra "Sandy" Kaup of Celina, Beverly Cabell of Jacksonville, FL, Karen & Mark R. Hoenie of Rockford, 8 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren and a brother-in-law Larry Hamilton of Mendon.

Jennie was preceded in death by her parents, husband and son-in-law David Cabell, sisters and brother-in-law Viola & Ril Miller, Betty Hamilton and her brother Robert & Eva Ritchie.

Jennie graduated from Celina High School with the Class of 1948. She retired as an office worker from Reynolds & Reynolds in Celina. She was a member of the Montezuma Church of Christ.

Jennie was an avid baker, well known for her many different kinds of homemade cookies, which she loved to share with everyone, especially her grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday Aug. 4, 2017 at the Lehman-Dzendzel Funeral Home in Celina, with Rev. Lowell Roberts officiating. Private Family Interment of her remains will be held in Ellis Cemetery in Montezuma at a later date.

Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. on Thursday at the Lehman-Dzendzel Funeral Home in Celina.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Kidney Fund, 6110 Executive Boulevard Suite 1010, Rockville, MD 20852-3914 or The Montezuma Church of Christ 71 S. Canal St., Montezuma, Ohio 45866.

Condolences may be left at LehmanDzendzelFH.com.