MARIELLEN MEHLER 79 Oblong, Illinois

VISITATION: 6 - 8 P.M. Wednesday June 29, 2005

FUNERAL: 2:00 P.M. Thursday June 30, 2005 Pulliam Funeral Home – Oblong

MEMORIAL: Oblong Schools Academic Foundation, envelopes at or may be mailed to the funeral home

Mariellen Mehler, 79, Oblong, Illinois died Sunday June 26, 2005 at her residence in her sleep. She was born in the Kibbee area in Crawford County, Illinois on April 2, 1926 the daughter of Louis Burner and Mattie ( Curtis ) Burner. On June 23, 1947, Mariellen married E. H. “Ted” Mehler who preceded her in death on December 11, 1987. She was a Homemaker and member of Oblong First Christian Church. Mariellen was an Assistant Camp Fire Leader along with helping sponsor Camp Fire Groups. For 40 years she led elementary, high school and collage science students on leaf collection tours. She loved the Halloween Parade and for 30 years she and her children were a part of them. When called she’d gather her butter churn collection and would give demonstrations in Oblong, Robinson and Newton Elementary Schools. She wrote columns for the Oblong Oracle, Crawford County Press ( later known as the Oblong Gem) and the Senior Citizen Voice, you would know her as “What’s Her Name”. She also wrote two books, these you would find written by “Marien Carpenter”. When called upon by her country in WWII she worked in a ship yard as a welder until having to produce her birth certificate which proved her only to be 15. However she would not let that stop her and went on later to serve as a nurse here in the U.S. Mariellen was a member of the Wild Flower Association of Texas with Lady Bird Johnson being the head. She loved skating, biking, playing bingo and remains undefeated in checkers amongst her family. She could play one mean game of checkers.

Mariellen is survived by a son and daughter-in-law Edward H. II & Shanna Mehler; three daughters and sons-in-laws Fredericka “Rickie” & Bill Autrey, Teddie Mehler, and Billie & Art Gangloff; 8 grandchildren James & Lisa Gangloff, Teresa Douglass, Brad & Lisa Autrey, Jack & Lori Saunders, Robin Cochran, Frankie & Ted VanSchoyck, Edward H. “Tres” Mehler III, and Koert Mehler; 10 great grandchildren Cody & Brandon Gangloff, Ely & Kendrick Saunders, Timmie Lee, Tommy Jo, Micheal and Annabell Cochran and Justin Wade & Clay Arthur VanSchoyck.

Mariellen gave all her children an appreciation of trees, birds, nature, writing and poetry by merely taking the time to do so. She is and will continue to be missed.

Her parents, husband and a brother and sister-in-law William Harmon & Stella Burner preceded Mariellen in death.

Burial will be in White Oak Cemetery rural Oblong.