Charlotte Merrill

ASTORIA - Charlotte L. Merrill, age 82, of 121 N. Jefferson, Astoria, Ill., passed away at 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010, at Astoria Gardens.

She was born on Sept. 6, 1927, in Browning, Ill., a daughter of James Reece and Garnet Marie (Hughes) McCombs. Charlotte married Paul E. "Abe" Merrill on July 31, 1952, in Hannibal, Mo. He preceded her in death on June 21, 1990.

She also was preceded in death by her brother, Richard McCombs; her infant sister, Ella Elizabeth McCombs; and her special friend, Robert Conner.

Surviving are her son, Reggie (and Donna) Merrill of Argenta, Ill.; her daughter, Ellen (and Thomas) Stevens of Astoria, Ill.; five grandchildren, Ryan (and Angeleen) Merrill of Jefferson City, Mo., Christian (and Rebecca) Merrill of St. Louis, Mo., Merrill "Scott" Stevens (and fiance, Brooke Martin) of Brownstone, Mich., and Stacy Stevens and Murphy "Joseph" Stevens, both of Astoria, Ill.; and two great-grandchildren, Nicholas Merrill and Sophia Merrill, both of Jefferson City, Mo.

Charlotte worked at the Colonial Theatre in Astoria. She also worked packing K-Rations in Peoria, Ill., and for Cudahay in Rushville, Ill. She owned a farm in Schuyler County and helped with the many chores of the farm.

She was a member of the Astoria Christian Church, where services will be held on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010, at 10 a.m. Gary Sheets will officiate. Visitation will be on Wednesday, Sept. 1, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Shawgo Memorial Home in Astoria, Ill. Interment will be in the Astoria Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Astoria Township Cemetery or the Astoria Rescue Squad.