Beverly Jane Harris Merkle

Beverly Jane Harris Merkle (nee Fowler), 84, of Fort Myers, Florida died peacefully on Tuesday, September 20, 2016 at Stein Hospice in Sandusky. “Jane” was born July 18, 1932 in Ashland, Oh where she spent her early years working in her Mom’s restaurant at the livestock auction house. She was proud of her employment at Cresco where she learned the art of sewing. She was married for more than 40 years to Myron Harris, together they owned Aaron Tree Service (Toledo) and raised 3 children. Hobbies included fishing, boating, sewing crafts and painting. Jane was a fantastic painter and was once commissioned to paint General H. Norman Schwarzkopf. In the 1980’s she retired to Fort Myer’s Beach where she earned the title “Crazy Lady of Curlew” for fishing alone on her beloved skiff, Lil Silky. In 2004 she met and later married Lee Merkle and they reside winters in Fort Myers and summers in Ohio. Jane is survived by her loving husband, Lee Merkle; sisters Phyllis (JoAnn) Rogers; Luzetta (Ann) Stackhouse; brother Larry Stevens; 6 step children and several grandchildren, nieces, nephews and step grandchildren. Jane was preceded in death by her first husband Myron Harris; children Linda Harris-Mayo; Jeffrey Harris; Steven Harris; stepfather Steven Stevens; mother, Edith (nee Finley) Stevens; and several brothers and sisters. She will be missed by all her family and friends. Visitation will be 2-4 & 6-8PM, Sunday, September 25, 2016 at Gerner-Wolf-Walker Funeral Home & Crematory, Port Clinton, Oh,. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00AM, Monday, September 26, 2016 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 414 Madison St., Port Clinton, OH 43452. Interment will be at 2:00PM, in the Ashland County Memorial Park, 1058 St Rt 250 N., Ashland, OH 44805. The family requests donations be made in lieu of flowers to Stein Hospice, 1200 Sycamore Lane, Sandusky, Oh 44870.