Obituary for Ethel Marie Grantham Mertens
Ethel “Marie” Grantham Mertens
April 03, 1940 – August 19, 2020
Marie Mertens entered her next phase of life on August 19, 2020 with her family praying and singing hymns and knowing that God’s comfort was on the horizon. Her life was full of experiences. She grew up in Harrisonburg, Louisiana, whereas a young teen she helped with her 4 siblings after her father passed at an early age. She was a caregiver at home with her mother and she was a caregiver in her career. She retired from Pinecrest State School where she worked in the hospital. Later in life she worked at Kingsville Baptist Church where she rocked babies in the church daycare and enjoyed taking care of the little ones. She loved music and loved to dance. She was light on her feet and one of her greatest pastimes was getting gussied up for a dance at the VA. She was a wonderful mother to her children and no matter what expense she had or how many jobs she worked, she always made room in the budget for her children’s passions.
Our memories of her take us back to simple days on a swing in her yard, steak and rice and gravy pressured cooked for Sunday lunch, sitting in a circle after the Easter Egg hunt singing off key hymns, and a full house at Christmas. She cooked, she fished, she told you what she thought and she hugged you so tight you knew you were part of her heart.
The family invites all to a visitation at Gallagher Funeral Home Friday, August 21, 2020 from 5:30 pm - 7:30 p.m. Please wear your mask in and out of the funeral home.
A private Christian funeral service will be held on August 22, 2020 at 2pm at Gallagher Funeral Home chapel with her grandson, Joshua Landry officiating. Her son in law, Tony Landry and dear friend, Ritha Warren will share their musical gift and sing songs that Marie always looked forward to. A burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Gallagher Funeral Home.
She was preceded in death by her father, Orville Grantham and mother, Lessie Thacker Grantham.
Those left to cherish her memory include her children Jackie Boatwright and her husband, Blake; Becky Crooks and her husband, Wendell; Kristy Landry and her husband, Tony; Sheri Grant and her husband, Mike; Erik Lee and his wife, Nikki. Her treasured grandchildren Jeremy Eissler (Cheyenne), Daniel Eissler (Clarice), Ashley Bain (Andrew), Todd Crooks (Jaime), Zach Crooks, Karen Doucet (Colton), Ryan Landry (Rachel), Joshua Landry (Justine), Ainslee Grant (Hunter), Garrison Grant, Bobby Grant, Ethan Lee, Shelby Lee, Anistyn Lee, Gatlin Lee and her great-grandchildren who she adored, Marilyn Eissler, Cheyanne Eissler, Andrew Eissler, Emily Eissler, Lillian Bain, Oliver Bain, Bennett Bain, Madelynn Doucet, Olivia Doucet, Benjamin Doucet, Adelyne Landry, Corbin Landry and Ari Guilbeau.
In addition to Marie’s children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, she is also survived by her siblings Oscar Grantham (Faye), Valda and David Hanner, C.F. and Corrine Grantham, James and Deanna Grantham.
Honored to serve as pallbearers are Erik Lee, Ethan Lee, Jeremy Eissler, Daniel Eissler, Todd Crooks, Zach Crooks, Garrison Grant and Bobby Grant, Ryan Landry and Joshua Landy.
Our family would like to thank the staff of Rapides Regional Covid Care Unit for their gentle care and compassion. They held her hand when we could not and walked us through the end of life journey on video. We are forever grateful for their patience and brief moments as part of our family. Please pray for their strength as they go home to their family and God’s guidance when they intercept such a tender role for a patient’s family.
April 03, 1940 – August 19, 2020
Marie Mertens entered her next phase of life on August 19, 2020 with her family praying and singing hymns and knowing that God’s comfort was on the horizon. Her life was full of experiences. She grew up in Harrisonburg, Louisiana, whereas a young teen she helped with her 4 siblings after her father passed at an early age. She was a caregiver at home with her mother and she was a caregiver in her career. She retired from Pinecrest State School where she worked in the hospital. Later in life she worked at Kingsville Baptist Church where she rocked babies in the church daycare and enjoyed taking care of the little ones. She loved music and loved to dance. She was light on her feet and one of her greatest pastimes was getting gussied up for a dance at the VA. She was a wonderful mother to her children and no matter what expense she had or how many jobs she worked, she always made room in the budget for her children’s passions.
Our memories of her take us back to simple days on a swing in her yard, steak and rice and gravy pressured cooked for Sunday lunch, sitting in a circle after the Easter Egg hunt singing off key hymns, and a full house at Christmas. She cooked, she fished, she told you what she thought and she hugged you so tight you knew you were part of her heart.
The family invites all to a visitation at Gallagher Funeral Home Friday, August 21, 2020 from 5:30 pm - 7:30 p.m. Please wear your mask in and out of the funeral home.
A private Christian funeral service will be held on August 22, 2020 at 2pm at Gallagher Funeral Home chapel with her grandson, Joshua Landry officiating. Her son in law, Tony Landry and dear friend, Ritha Warren will share their musical gift and sing songs that Marie always looked forward to. A burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Gallagher Funeral Home.
She was preceded in death by her father, Orville Grantham and mother, Lessie Thacker Grantham.
Those left to cherish her memory include her children Jackie Boatwright and her husband, Blake; Becky Crooks and her husband, Wendell; Kristy Landry and her husband, Tony; Sheri Grant and her husband, Mike; Erik Lee and his wife, Nikki. Her treasured grandchildren Jeremy Eissler (Cheyenne), Daniel Eissler (Clarice), Ashley Bain (Andrew), Todd Crooks (Jaime), Zach Crooks, Karen Doucet (Colton), Ryan Landry (Rachel), Joshua Landry (Justine), Ainslee Grant (Hunter), Garrison Grant, Bobby Grant, Ethan Lee, Shelby Lee, Anistyn Lee, Gatlin Lee and her great-grandchildren who she adored, Marilyn Eissler, Cheyanne Eissler, Andrew Eissler, Emily Eissler, Lillian Bain, Oliver Bain, Bennett Bain, Madelynn Doucet, Olivia Doucet, Benjamin Doucet, Adelyne Landry, Corbin Landry and Ari Guilbeau.
In addition to Marie’s children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, she is also survived by her siblings Oscar Grantham (Faye), Valda and David Hanner, C.F. and Corrine Grantham, James and Deanna Grantham.
Honored to serve as pallbearers are Erik Lee, Ethan Lee, Jeremy Eissler, Daniel Eissler, Todd Crooks, Zach Crooks, Garrison Grant and Bobby Grant, Ryan Landry and Joshua Landy.
Our family would like to thank the staff of Rapides Regional Covid Care Unit for their gentle care and compassion. They held her hand when we could not and walked us through the end of life journey on video. We are forever grateful for their patience and brief moments as part of our family. Please pray for their strength as they go home to their family and God’s guidance when they intercept such a tender role for a patient’s family.