Marcella B. Merica, 91 years old of Fort Wayne, Indiana, passed away at 8:10 a.m. on Monday, January 23, 2012 in the Bethlehem Woods Nursing & Rehabilitaion located in Fort Wayne. Marcella was a former Decatur, Indiana resident. Marcella was born on Monday, February 16, 1920 in Warsaw, Indiana the daughter of the late Devon Emmons and the late Gladys (Dick) Emmons. Her first husband, George E. Smith passed away in September 1963; her second husband, Lester A. Merica passed away in October 1992. Marcella was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Decatur, Indiana where she had been involved with Jail Ministry and the Alter Guild. In 1998, she was awarded the Channel 15 TV Golden Rule Award for people who care, with the work she had done with the Jail Ministry. She was a graduate of Warsaw High School Class of 1938. Marcella had worked for Patterson-Fletcher clothing store in Ft. Wayne, Indiana; the Peabody Home in North Manchester, Indiana being one of the first "Peabody Girls"; and the Pierceton Lumber Company. Surviving are her daughter, Anita K. Wolfe of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; son, James W. (Barb) Smith of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; son, David J. (Rose) Smith of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; brother, Robert J. "Bill" (Edna) Emmons of Huntington, Indiana; thirteen grandchildren, twenty three great-grandchildren. Preceding Marcella in death were 1 brother, Devon "Buck" Emmons Jr. and 2 sisters, Ignota Smith and Marjorie Hubartt. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 26, 2012 in the First United Methodist Church in Decatur, Indiana. Interment will follow in the Hillcrest Cemetery located in Pierceton, Indiana. Friends will be received from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, January 25, 2012 in the Zwick and Jahn Funeral Home, Decatur, Indiana and one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. Preferred memorials are to First United Methodist Church or Heartland Hospice.
