Mary Lou Mertz, 77, Bland, passed away Saturday, April 11, 2020 at her home.
She was born Sept. 2, 1942, to Bill Azriah and Leona (Stellhorn) Welker in St. Louis.
She was united in marriage to Ernest Gottfried Mertz, June 23, 1962, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Ellisville.
Mary Lou attended Rock Hill Grade School, Mt. Calvary Lutheran School in Brentwood and graduated from Eureka High School. In 1962, Mary Lou and her husband made their first home in Clarinda, Iowa, and in 1963 they moved to Rosebud, then to Concordia and later to St. Louis County. In their retirement, Mary Lou and her husband purchased a farm in Bland and restored an original 1911 Sears & Roebuck Mail Order Kit farmhouse.
Mary Lou constructed and altered costumes at The Muny in St. Louis in the 1970’s, while her husband was the stage manager. She worked in a variety of industries including, a cap factory in Gerald, Ridder’s Calico and Country Store in Owensville, and Maritz in Fenton; however, she most enjoyed her time working at the ABC Store, a dry good store in Belle at which she assisted farmers and hunters in finding the perfect boots, jeans, or outdoor wear.
Mary Lou was an avid seamstress and gardener. She excelled in horticulture classes at East Central College. She loved yard sales and shopping at her favorite boutique, Goodwill. In her spare time, she also enjoyed spending time with her family, picking wild blackberries and making apple butter on the farm. She was a member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church of Belle.
She was preceded in death by her parents; Bill and Leona Welker; her brother, Billy Welker, and identical twin sister, Martha Lee Hughes.
Her survivors include her husband, Ernest Mertz; three children, Barbara Stumpe and husband Kevin of Spring Bluff, Christopher Mertz and wife Sheryl of Bland, and Mary Beth and husband Andrezj Wlodarczyk; brothers, John Welker and David Welker both of Nebraska; sister, Barbara Foster of Labadie; seven grandchildren, Danielle and husband Jeff Goodman of Spring Bluff, Danette and husband Rob Parham of Columbia, Nick and wife Shelby Mertz of Bland, Tyler and wife Kelly Stumpe of Pacific, Nathan Mertz and April Murphy of Monett, Trina and husband Cody Meyer of Gerald, and Skylar Wlodarczyk; and seven great-grandchildren, Evelyn, Nora, and Amelia Goodman, Kate and Maggie Mertz, George Stumpe, and Everett Meyer.
A private graveside service was held. She was buried at Old Bland Cemetery in Bland. There will be a celebration of life service at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorials be given to Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Belle or Immanuel Lutheran Church of Rosebud.
Funeral arrangements under the direction of Gottenstroeter Funeral Home of Owensville.
