Toni Rae Merkley

Toni Rae Merkley, 75, passed away on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, at Canterbury Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She was born September 24, 1946, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, the daughter of the late Wesley Tony and Verla Petersen.

While at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, Toni met her husband, Nelson A. Merkley. They were married in the Idaho Falls Temple on August 19, 1966. Toni worked at the Fort Wayne Newspaper in Advertising Sales for 21 years, retiring in 2009. She was an active, faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Toni was an avid artist and enjoyed playing the piano, oil painting, crafting, scrapbooking, and creating personal cards and handouts. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family.

Toni is survived by her husband, Nelson Merkley of Fort Wayne; daughters, Christine Merkley of Margate, FL, Marilyn (Greg) Lepore of Columbia, MD, Deborah (Joshua) Hensley of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany; 11 grandchildren; one great-grandson, and one great-grandchild on the way. She was preceded in death by a sister, Billie Ann Reeder.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, May 28, 2022, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 5401 St. Joe Road, Fort Wayne, with visitation one hour prior. Visitation will also take place from 6:00 to 8:00pm on Friday, May 27, 2022, at D.O. McComb and Sons Lakeside Park Funeral Home, 1140 Lake Ave. Fort Wayne. Grave dedication will be 11:00 am on Tuesday, May 31,2022, in Covington Memorial Gardens, 8408 Covington Road, Fort Wayne.

Memorial donations in her honor may be directed to the Humanitarian Aid Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for Toni's family may be shared at www.McCombandSons.com