Merle Cottrell Martin, 77 - Ohio

(11/24/2009)
Merle Cottrell Martin, 77, passed away Saturday, November 21, 2009.

She was born December 1, 1931 in Grantsville, West Virginia to George and Esther Cottrell. Merle was a homemaker and provided child care.

Merle was a kind, loving person who would lovingly play in homemade tents, don a football helmet, and could make you a super hero or a beautiful bride out of a towel and a safety pin. She could heal a boo-boo with her famous "sick soup".

Special memories of Merle were of her playing dress up with her grandchildren, her big Sunday dinners and her enormous love and dedication to her husband Bill who passed away in 2005. She died of a broken heart.

Merle is survived by her son Doug (Deanna) Martin of Diamond and her daughters, Sherry (Greg) Ackerman of Canton and Laura (Ron) Pringle of Edinburg. Surviving also are her grandchildren, Matt (Renee) Garlock, Michael Martin, Andrew (Diana) Garlock, Kristina (Jason) Martin, Melea (Joe) MacDonald, Nicole Ackerman and Dan, Dave and Doug Pringle. Also surviving are her great-grandchildren, Billy, Matt, Nate, Joey, Christopher, Mya, Nick, Ryan, Lauren, Lucas and two yet to be born. She is survived by her sister Virginia White (Bud) of Masontown, W.Va, and sister-in-law Elizabeth Cottrell of Alliance.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband Bill and her six siblings.

Family will receive visitors on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Wood-Kortright-Borkoski Funeral Home, 703 E. Main St., Ravenna where funeral services will be held on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at 11 a.m. with Pastor Larry Baldridge officiating. Interment will follow at Palmyra West Cemetery.

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