Mary Ellen Merkley

  Mary Ellen Merkley (née Herziger), also known as ‘Mimi,’ passed away peacefully on January 16, 2026, at the age of 76 in Ft. Worth, Texas.

  Mary was born on October 4, 1949, in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, to William and Marjorie (Tump) Herziger. Mary and her sister were raised in the family’s beautiful home along Cedar Creek until she went to college at Purdue University in Indiana, followed by graduate school at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. In 1978, Mary and her first husband, Bill, moved to TX with their infant daughter, Christine. In TX, she grew her family with the birth of her son, Andrew, built a lasting career, and made countless friends through work and play.

  Mary devoted her entire professional life to serving as a school psychologist in the Cleburne and Mineral Wells Independent School Districts in TX – a career she deeply loved and excelled in. Over more than 25 years, she helped countless children, families, teachers, and administrators navigate behavioral health concerns and ensure students’ emotional and academic success.

  In 2000, Mary’s next chapter began when she met Tom Merkley, a funny, big-hearted Delta pilot, who enjoyed travelling as much as she did. The two hit it off immediately and were married in June of 2002, nurturing a beautifully blended family in the process. Soon after, and with retirement in the rear window, Tom and Mary built a stunning home near Aledo, TX and began realizing their dream of traveling the world – often with Andrew’s company until he headed to college. Mary and Tom traveled all over Europe, Russia, Taiwan and Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, South America, and places in-between. They made wonderful friends on their travels, relationships they continued to cultivate many years later.

  In 2014, Mary and Tom built a second home in Louisville, Colorado, where they spent summers visiting Christine and her family, enjoying CO famer’s markets and summer concerts in the park, baking treats with grandchildren, long walks around Hecla Lake, trails and open space, and watching fireworks from a neighborhood ridge.

  Throughout her life, Mary enjoyed gardening, reading, cooking and entertaining friends and family, animated discussions about current affairs, spending time in nature, and photography - she had a talent for capturing the warmth and beauty of the people and places she visited. Mary took every opportunity to socialize and was active in her neighborhood’s book club and supper club. Above all, Mary treasured time spent with her family and grandchildren in both TX and CO. Mary lived her life with compassion, empathy, and the unwavering view that people are good if you take the time to understand them, everyone generally does the best they can, everyone deserves a hand, and everyone has a story worth knowing.

  Mary is preceded in death by her parents, William and Marjorie Herziger. Those left to mourn her passing include her loving husband of 23 years, Thomas Merkley; daughter and son-in-law, Christine and Mike Apgar; son, Andrew Garver; stepson and stepdaughter-in-law, Matthew and Dyani Merkley; sister, Nancy Hietter; beloved grandchildren, Madeleine Apgar, Elena Apgar, Keilee Merkley, and Crosby Merkley; and a host of loving friends who cherish her memory.

  A memorial service to honor Mary’s life will be held on Friday, February 20, 2026, at Holy Redeemer Church Parish, 16250 Old Weatherford Road, Aledo, Texas. The service will begin at 10:00 a.m. followed immediately by a reception onsite. She will be laid to rest at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery in Dallas, Texas. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice.

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