Ireta L. "Rita" Merkley

Ireta L. "Rita" Merkley, 85, of Princeton died at 8 p.m. Sunday, July 26, 2015, at Liberty Village of Princeton. Born Jan. 14, 1930, in Spring Valley to George E. and Clara Katheryn (Van Der Voorte) Rowley, she married Frank P. Merkley March 15, 1947, in Princeton. He survives. She was self-employed as a business woman, and was the owner and operator of Old Times - Quilters Heaven and Lacery. Also surviving are one son, Lon (Jane) Merkley of Princeton; three grandchildren, Dr. Michelle (Chris) Oliver of Athens, Ill., Lance (Tabatha) Merkley of Lake Bruin, La., and Jarrod (Elisha) Merkley of Princeton; four great-grandchildren, Elana Martinez of Princeton, Mason Merkley of Princeton, Carter Merkley of Lake Bruin, La., and Alexander Oliver of Athens, Ill.; and two brothers, Walter (Gladys) Rowley of Princeton and William (Silvia) Nelson of Princeton. She was preceded in death by her parents, George Rowley and Clara Katheryn Nelson; and one daughter, Pamela Merkley. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, July 31, at the Grant-Johnson Funeral Home, Princeton, with the Rev. Laura Tanner officiating. Burial will be in Elm Lawn Memorial Park, Princeton. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 30, at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to Illinois Valley Hospice, Illinois Community Hospital in Peru and the Princeton Fire Department.