Margaret E. (Brown) Merkle, 96, of Sandusky, passed away early Monday morning, June 10, 2013, in her home.

She was born on June 17, 1916, in Little York, Ill., and graduated from Alexis High School in 1934. Margaret moved to Ohio in 1934 and married Robert H. Merkle in September of 1936 in Sandusky.

Margaret worked for many years at Forster China Co., Coachlight Card Co., and Jack Bertsch Jewelers. She and her husband owned and operated the Little Green Variety Store in Sandusky.

She was a member of St. Stephen United Church of Christ where she was an Elder Stephen of the church. Margaret was a volunteer at the Erie Co. Senior Center Gift Shop, was honored as a Woman of Excellence in 1996 from the Republican Women's Club, loved gardening, was a great seamstress, and loved spending time with family and friends.

Margaret is survived by her son, David Merkle of Sandusky, with whom she resided; daughters, Barbara (Paul) Farrar, Carol Herzog, and Dianne (David) Meredith all of Sandusky, Roberta Keller, of Castalia; 11 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; brother, Hubert Brown of Rock Island, Ill.; sisters, Bonnie Saunders of Milan, Ill., and Izora Callahan of California.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Merkle, in 1978; parents, Ralph E. and Grace (McIntyre) Brown; four sisters; four brothers; and a son-in-law, Clarence "Sonny" Herzog.

Friends may call 9-11 a.m. Thursday, June 13, at St. Stephen United Church of Christ, 905 E. Perkins Ave., Sandusky. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. at the church. Rev. Jerald Fenske and Mel Sayler, Chaplain with Stein Hospice, will officiate. Burial will be in Meadow Green Memorial Park, Huron.

Memorial contributions may be made in Margaret's name to St. Stephen United Church of Christ, or to Stein Hospice Service, 1200 Sycamore Line, Sandusky, OH 44870.

Toft Funeral Home & Crematory, 2001 Columbus Ave., Sandusky, is handling arrangements. Condolences and gifts of sympathy may be shared with the family at toftfh.com.