Marcella L. Mertens, 87

Marcella L. Mertens, 87, passed away in Spokane, Wash., on March 21, 2004.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 13, 2004, in Coffelt's Moon Chapel. Pastor Randy Hohf, Sandpoint Church of Christ, will officiate.

Marcella was born in St. Cloud, Minn., on Nov. 19, 1916, the daughter of Jack and Frances Gapp. She attended college, receiving a teaching certificate.

She married Gordon Mertens on Sept. 16, 1945, in Waukeegan, Ill.

For 15 years, she and Gordon operated Paradise Springs Resort in Eagle, Wis. They later moved to Barrington, Ill., and raised thoroughbred horses for 25 years.

She moved to Sandpoint from Barrington, Ill., in 1987. She was a devoted mother, raising four children.

Marcella was a member of the Sandpoint Church of Christ.

She is survived by four children, Darlene Spaulding of Sandpoint, Charmaine Shields of Wonder Lake, Ill., Patricia Brookes of Laughlin, Nev., and Robert Mertens of Sandpoint; a sister, Dottie Gabriel of Arlington Heights, Ill.; and four grandchildren, Gordon Mertens III, Lee R. Sordelet, DeDe Shields and Jackie Shields.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Gordon; her son, Gordon Mertens II; a brother, and two sisters.

Funeral services are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.