Merle Nash-Taylor passed away peacefully in Indianapolis on Dec. 9, 2021, two weeks after her 95 th birthday.

Merle was born Nov. 25, 1926, near Jonesboro, AR to Emmitt and Susie Stevens. After marrying Bill Nash in 1946, they moved from Arkansas to California, where both their children were born. In the mid 1950s they moved back to Arkansas and then on to Indiana two years later. Merle retired from Miles Laboratories 30 years ago.

A very kind and considerate person, she always had a smile, and family and friends who knew her treasured her. Merle was a baker and a seamstress and loved making chocolate chip cookies, cakes (Jam cake was one of her most popular.), pies, peanut brittle, chocolate-covered peanuts and more. She sewed outfits for her daughters and granddaughters during their growing up years and made house slippers in her older years. Fishing was a favorite outdoor activity all her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands Billy Nash, William Gans and Andrew Taylor; brothers Earl, Frank and Hughey Stevens; and sisters Christine Gaut and Betty McCary. Baby sisters Armeldia and Mildred Stevens were born after Merle, but each baby died shortly after birth.

Survivors include son Jim (Sue) Nash, daughter Bonnie Nash, bonus daughter Melanie Wells, granddaughters Julieen Nash Burnham and Kelley Nash, great grandchildren Kendra (Nate) Herbel, Kyler Sigsbee and Macie Burnham, great-great grandsons Braydon and Jude; brother Emmitt (Pansy) Stevens Jr., sister Marilyn Sue Hamilton; and numerous nieces and nephews. Six stepchildren also survive, including Linda (Richard) VanDoel, Debra (Robert) Nava, Marcia (Tim) Franklin, Martin (Sheri) Taylor, Mike (Brenda) Gans, Shirley (Chuck) Lund, and more grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

A funeral service is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, at First General Baptist Church, 11101 McKinley Hwy., Osceola, IN 46561. Visitation is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with the funeral starting at 1:00.   Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home, 10776 McKinley Hwy., Osceola, IN 46561, is handling arrangements. Persons wishing to make a memorial contribution may make it to Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health in Indianapolis or to a charity of their choice.