Merle Lucille (Moyle) Audette

HANCOCK, Mich. - Merle Lucille (Moyle) Audette, 85, of Silver City, passed away on March 24, 2014, at Medora House, PortagePointe, Hancock, where she had been a resident for 18 months.

She was born to David Sr. and Lucille (Michel) Moyle on Dec. 20, 1928, in Calumet. She graduated from Calumet High School and lived on the Moyle Farm until she married Norman Audette on Sept. 21, 1948.

Merle and Norm made their life together for 52 years, mostly on Union Bay near Silver City, on the banks of the Union River, where they raised their six children and built and operated the Union River Campground. Together they enjoyed entertaining family and friends in their home. Merle loved people and her special talents were cooking and meeting the needs of those around her. She will be remembered for her kind and gentle spirit. She and her husband were founding members of St. Jude's Catholic Church in White Pine.

Prior to her life at PortagePointe, Merle lived at The Bluffs Assisted Living in Houghton for six years. Merle was an avid reader and loved to play Scrabble.

Merle leaves behind her six children, Norman (Susan) Audette, of Sagola, Maureen (George) Heaton, of Boyne City, Fay (Gordon) Bush, of Rockford, Daniel (Debra) Audette, of Marquette, Betsy (Gordon) Pekuri, of Ironwood, and Steven (Lori) Audette, of Las Vegas. She adored her 14 grandchildren, Jeffrey Heaton, Carrie Fisher, Melanie Walker, Rebecca Pirtle, Jason Audette, Daniel J. Audette, Jenny Carroll, Joshua Pekuri, Eli Pekuri, Jennifer Johnson, Diana Rautio, Kevin Audette, Michael Audette, Jack Audette; and 26 great-grandchildren. Merle is also survived by four sisters, Alice (Ronald) Ziemnick, of Bootjack, Mary Lou (Ben) Leiker, of Bootjack, Janet Dudenas (Michael), of Mohawk, and Margaret (Vernon) Axford, of Lake Linden; one brother, Gordon (Maryrose) Moyle, of Negaunee; sisters-in-law, June Aho (Rodney) Roehm, of Marengo, Wis., Madelyn Saladin, of White Pine, Mary Jane Moyle, of Laurium, Lorraine Moyle, of Hancock, and Ethel Moyle, of Laurium; and brother-in-law, Gervase (Lorraine) Audette, of Naples, Fla. She also leaves numerous nieces, nephews and many friends, including special friend Su-Shen.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Norman; her parents; her mother-in-law, Isabelle Audette; brothers, David, Tom and Don Moyle; and grandson, Erik Bush.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Jude's Catholic Church in White Pine at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 27, with the Rev. Michael Jacobus officiating, and assisted by Deacon Terry Saunders.

The family will greet visitors at the church one hour prior to the service.

Burial will be at Holy Family Cemetery, Ontonagon.

Contributions in Merle's memory can be made to St. Vincent de Paul, 205 Quartz St., Ontonagon MI 49953.

The Cane Funeral Home of Ontonagon is assisting the family.