Carol L. Merriel

Carol L. Merriel, 77, of Mt. Carmel, Illinois, passed away Sunday, January 2, 2022, at Wabash General Hospital surrounded by the love of her family.

She was born February 17, 1944, in Princeton, Indiana, the daughter of Leo John and Agnes (Tougaw) Kieffer. Carol graduated from high school in Princeton. On February 10, 1961, she married Robert Leon Merriel in Princeton, Indiana.

Carol was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Mt. Carmel, Illinois. She owned and operated a day care for children. Carol enjoyed sewing (prayer blankets, quilts, costumes and kid’s clothes), working in her rose garden and preparing/helping with funeral dinners for the church.  She was known for her tea, delicious chicken and noodles and her love of God. Carol’s greatest love was working and caring for children, family and pets, spending time with her grandchildren and cooking Sunday dinner for all who would show up.

Left to cherish Carol’s memory are her husband, Leon, of sixty years of marriage; children, John (Tammy) Merriel of Mt. Carmel, Illinois, Lisa Howell (Harvey) Lucedale of Mississippi, Kris (Rick) Leveque of Browns, Illinois, Janie (Jeff) Hiatt, Patric (Leah) Merriel, and Diane (Earnest) Bulin, all of Mt. Carmel, Illinois; grandchildren, Brandon (Sierra) Merriel, Caleb (Morgan) Merriel, Justin Merriel, Tyler Leveque, Adam (Kiera) Leveque, Lori (Colten) Cotner, Ryan (Brittany) Merriel, Hunter (Krystal) Merriel, Malachi, Rylee and Alex Bulin, Scott (Brittany) Hiatt, Jessica (David) Onyett and Jacob (Kelsie) Hiatt; twenty one great-grandchildren; brother, Tom (Joann) Kieffer, and special friend, Ellen Grounds.

Carol is preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Ann Jane Kight-Miller.

Visitation for Carol will be Thursday, January 6, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. with a Rosary Service at 11:45 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 125 W. 5th Street, Mt. Carmel, Illinois. Funeral Mass will be held at 12:00 p.m. following visitation. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Poplar & Landes Streets, Mt. Carmel, Illinois.

COVID-19 precautions, wearing of face coverings, social distancing and use of hand sanitizer is recommended.

Memorials may be made to Operation Smile, 3641 Faculty Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA 23453. Envelopes will be available at the church or funeral home.

Condolences may be made online at www.short-cunninghamfh.com

Short-Cunningham Funeral Home is honored to serve Carol’s family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Carol L. Merriel, please visit our floral store.