staff
 Brian S. Merkle
Brian S. Merkle, L.F.D., Manager: is a lifelong Monroe resident. He has been married to Tammy (Haynes) since June 22, 2001 and together they have three children, Olivia, Merin, and Ethan.
Brian is a 1996 Monroe High School graduate, and a 1999 Monroe County Community College graduate. In the year 2000 while obtaining his bachelor's degree from Wayne State University in Mortuary Science he served his practicum at the Anderson Funeral Home in Adrian.
Brian served his apprenticeship with the Bennett Funeral Homes in Monroe and Erie, and the David C. Brown Funeral Home in Belleville, Michigan. For four years Brian served the residents of Monroe as a Licensed Funeral Director at the Bennett Funeral Homes. He also managed the Erie Facility for three years. For more than two years Brian worked as a Licensed Funeral Director with Ochalek-Stark Funeral Service, Milan and Stark Funeral Service, Ypsilanti.
Brian has been a member since 1997 of the Monroe Charter Township Fire Department where he is a State Certified Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician. He has served as one of the departments Emergency Medical Liaison’s to Mercy Memorial Hospital and is a state certified member of the Monroe County Critical Incident Stress Management Team. Since June of 2006 he has been employed by Monroe Community Ambulance as an Emergency Medical Technician.
Brian has chaired the 9-11, Memorial Tower Climb Committee, served Monroe Charter Township as a Trustee of the Township Board, and chaired the Board of Review. Brian serves on the board of directors for the Monroe Exchange Club, works with the United Way of Monroe as an event planner, and recently he has assisted the American Red Cross, Monroe Chapter by chairing several blood drives.
He is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church where he serves as an Elder, Usher, and on the Day School Commission Board.
Brian is also Vice-President of the Dundee Business Dynamics group and a member of the Business Network International Chapter 1, Monroe.
To contact Brian Merkle, please e-mail him at bmerkle@merklefuneralservice.com
 Tammy L. Merkle
Tammy L. Merkle, Family Services Coordinator:, has lived in Monroe for most of her life.
Tammy is a 1989 graduate of Monroe High School, and earned her Associate of Applied Science Degree in Dental Hygiene from Owens Community College in 1998. Since her graduation from hygiene school Tammy has been employed by Kuras Dental Health Associates of Monroe.
Tammy holds a limited life insurance license and a cosmetology license through the State of Michigan. She is a resident agent for the National Guardian Life (NGL) Insurance Company. She assists with advanced planning arrangements at the funeral home and has experience in the sales of permanent monuments and memorials.
Tammy is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. Tammy is also a certified CPR instructor.
To contact Tammy Merkle, please e-mail her at tammy@merklefuneralservice.com
 Lola
Lola is a cock-a-poo. She was born June 9, 2009, and is a frequent fixture at Merkle Funeral Service.
This summer Lola will be taking obedience training. She then will become certified in grief therapy. Lola loves people and especially spending time with the Merkle children and the Merkle Funeral Service staff.
Mickey L. Watts
Mickey L. Watts Family Services Assistant; moved to Michigan in 1964 shortly after marrying his wife, Brenda. The couple has lived in Monroe County for more than thirty years. They are extremely proud of their three adult children, nine grandchildren, and one great grandchild.
In 2005, Mickey retired from the Ford Motor Company after 42 years of service. However, after retirement he decided to reenter the workforce. As a young man, MIckey worked for the Carter Funeral Home. He had enjoyed this line of work and decided to try funeral service again. For the past two years he has worked for Ochalek-Stark Funeral Service in Milan and Stark Funeral Service, Ypsilanti.
Mickey had to leave high school prior to graduation. He was determined to complete his G.E.D. and became the Valedictorian of his Adult Education Class upon completion. He then furthered his education by attending Eastern Michigan University for various courses and Wayne State University for Evangelism. Mickey is extremely active in his church, the North Monroe Street Church of God Mountain Assembly. He serves as an usher, works on the food closet team for the Philadelphia House Ministries, and performs home and hospital visits.
In his spare time, Mickey is an avid outdoorsman, especially enjoying fishing and camping with his family.
To contact Mickey L. Watts, please e-mail him at mwatts@merklefuneralservice.com
 Lance Tedora
Lance A. Tedora, Family Services Assistant; is a lifelong Monroe resident. Recently, Lance became engaged to Jennifer Evanski, also of Monroe.
Lance is a 2003 graduate of Monroe High School and is working on his business management degree at Monroe County Community College. He previously attended Wayne County Community College where he earned his firefighting certificate and his emergency medical technician license. Lance recently completed his paramedic certification and is now employed as a paramedic for Monroe Community Ambulance.
Lance began in funeral service at Roselawn Memorial Park, LaSalle where he worked for five years. After leaving Roselawn he worked for the Bennett Funeral Homes, Monroe and Erie as a Directors Assistant.
He attends St. Michael's Church in Monroe.
To contact Lance Tedora, please e-mail him at latedora@merklefuneralservice.com
 Sandy Ucci
Sandra K. Ucci, Family Services Assistant; Sandy was born in Lansing, Michigan. After graduation in 1978 she moved to Monroe. She makes her home in Monroe with, Wayne Hayner, store manager of Battery Wholesale. She has two adult children, Nicole and Nicholas, and a stepdaughter, Melissa. Sandy also has five grandchildren.
Sandy was a homemaker for many years before taking employment with Howard Ternes Company for four years. She became a pharmacy technician in 1997 and worked at CVS until 2000. From 2002 until 2005 Sandy worked at the Bennett Funeral Homes Monroe and Erie as a Directors Assistant.
A cancer survivor, Sandy is a dedicated volunteer and participant in the Relay for Life. She loves to read and to spend time with her family and grandchildren. Sandy is a loving, caring person and enjoys the opportunity to serve others at the funeral home.
To contact Sandy Ucci, please e-mail her at succi@merklefuneralservice.com
 Bill Tezak
Bill Tezak, Family Services Assistant; is originally from Sandusky, Ohio. He resides in Monroe with his wife Juanita (Ellison), a Monroe native. Bill served his country in the U.S. Navy for three years before marrying in 1961. They have a son, Mike, three grandsons, and one great grandson.
Bill retired in 1993 after serving Purolator Courier, an overnight package delivery service, for 23 years. The last 21 years he had been in management. At that time the family resided in Albany, New York for 15 years.
Bill enjoys racing, fishing, his family, and especially his grandchildren. Bill attends the North Monroe Street Church of God where he serves as a head usher and custodian.
To contact Bill Tezak, please e-mail him at btezak@merklefuneralservice.com
 Dana Overstreet
Dana Overstreet was born in Ypsilanti and raised in Belleville, Michigan. She graduated from Belleville High School in 1971 and married the Rev. Alfred Overstreet on Aug. 21, 1976. The couple has two children, Michael James who resides in Atlanta, Ga. and Felisha Gabrielle who lives in Monroe. Dana and her husband now reside in Monroe with their dog, Baya.
She has worked in several Monroe area businesses, and has been employed by the Monroe Public Schools for the past 20 years as a bus assistant. She belongs to the Al Overstreet Evangelistic Ministry, where she also teaches Sunday School. Her hobbies include crocheting and cooking. She loves working with people.
 Brad Barron
Brad Barron, Family Service Assistant, is a life long Monroe County resident. He married Alice Scott on June 16, 1984. Together they make their home in Newport. Brad and Alice have two children: Brian, 21, and Deanna, 18.
Brad is a 1978 graduate of Airport High School. Brad works as a Superviser for Allied Barton Security at Mercy Memorial Hospital. In the past he has worked for Weinlander Kitchen and Bath and was co-owner of Barron Brothers Siding Co.
He attends Stewart Road Christian Ministries Center and formerly had served as Head Usher and worked with the Video Ministry. Brad is also a Fire Engine Buff, enjoys camping, golfing, and watching movies with his family.
 Jane Woodbury
Jane Woodbury Floral Expressions, Professional Floral Designer; is a lifetime Monroe resident.She graduated from Monroe High School in 1980 and married Ralph Woodbury in 1985. The couple has three children, Rebecca, William, and Alexandra. Ralph is a career firefighter and paramedic for the City of Monroe.
Jane has worked in floral service since 1978. She had been employed for several area companies before purchasing Old Town Floral Designs in 2002.
She is a member of Zion Lutheran Church. Jane is the visitor host for the Business Network International Chapter 1, Monroe. She also assists her husband with recordkeeping for Monroe County Firefighters Training courses. In the past she was a volunteer with the Toledo Hospital Care Group of Bereaved Parents.
She enjoys gardening, swimming, spending time with her family and their three dogs, Sing Sing, Mystery, and Lily.
To contact Jane Woodbury, please e-mail her at jwoodbury@merklefuneralservice.com
 Sirena Williams
Sirena R. Williams, Office Manager, was born and raised in Monroe County; she currently resides in Woodhaven with her husband Ryan Williams, whom she married June 16, 2007. They are proud parents to a daughter Hannah Christine born in March of 2009. They have a cocker spaniel named Chloe.
Sirena is a 2001 graduate of Monroe High School and is currently attending Spring Arbor University to obtain her Bachelor's degree in Business Administration.
For the past 6 years Sirena has worked in the financial industry, first with LaSalle Bank for 4 years, and then transferring to ABN Amro Mortgage, as an administrative assistant in the departments on business continuity, data security, and vendor management.
She enjoys spending time with family and friends, photography, scrap booking, sewing, and in summer months she enjoys golfing, jet skiing, and boating.
To contact Sirena Williams, please e-mail her at swilliams@merklefuneralservice.com
 Terry Crawford
Terry L. Crawford, Hospitality Director; joined the staff of Merkle Funeral Service in February of 2008. In November, she was appointed to Hospitality Director were she assists families with pre and post Celebration of Life (funeral) needs including catering options.
Terry is a graduate of Riverside High School in Dearborn Heights, Michigan. She also spent 12 years employed by Ford Motor Company in Wayne as a Team Leader.
Terry married Brad Crawford on April 17, 1998 in Toledo, Ohio. They worship at the North Monroe Street Church of God in Frenchtown Township. The Crawford’s have five children including David and Neil who currently are serving their country proudly in the United States Military. They are proud grandparents of twin baby grandsons and a granddaughter. They make their home in Monroe with their Tabby Cat, Dune.
Terry enjoys scuba diving, ball room dancing, and spending time with her family.
To contact Terry Crawford, please e-mail her at tcrawford@merklefuneralservice.com
 Ross A. Otter
Ross A. Otter, Special Projects - Research and Development Director; joined Merkle Funeral Service in October of 2008. He is a lifelong Monroe resident. Ross and his wife, Pam who works in the business office at the Monroe YMCA, have three adult children; son Shawn of Austin, Texas, daughter Shannon of Westland, Michigan and son Ryan of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. They are excited about the arrival of their first grandchild this year.
Ross is a graduate of Monroe County Community College; he attended the University of Toledo, and has a B.A. degree in Management and Computer Science from Northwood University in Midland, Michigan.
Ross has over 35 years of experience in Information Technology in various business environments including Public Utilities, Health Insurance and Manufacturing. In 2007 he retired from Ford Motor Company in Dearborn after 24 years of service.
Ross and Pam are members of Trinity Lutheran Church, Monroe. Ross has served as a head usher and has held positions on their Church Council as Vice President of Finance, Treasurer, member of the Pastoral Advisory Committee and a member of the Wage Formula and Benefit Council.
Ross enjoys bicycling, swimming, yard work, sports in general and spending time with his family and their two dogs, Jack and Louie.
To contact Ross Otter, please e-mail him at ross@merklefuneralservice.com
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