Obituary of Merle Fitzgerald

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, at West Lawn Memorial Funeral Home in Eugene for Merle E. Fitzgerald of Eugene, who died Sept. 27 of age-related causes. She was 85.She was born Feb. 22, 1927, in Glaston, N.D., to Isaac and Annie Chapman Jackson. She married Ralph Fitzgerald on Feb. 19, 1942, in Humbolt County, Minn. He died Sept. 14, 2011.She graduated from Lane Education Department. She was a homemaker.Survivors include four sons, Micheall Fitzgerald of Eugene, James Lowell of Powhatan, Ark., Daniel Fitzgerald of Lebanon and William Fitzgerald of Eugene; two daughters, Mary Ellen Schmitzler of Woodinville, Wash., and Susan Klassert of Eugene; a brother, Warren Jackson of Benson, Minn.; a sister, Arlene Turner of Wisick, N.D.; 18 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. A daughter, Vernetta Fitzgerald, and a son, Thomas Fitzgerald, died previously.Arrangements by Musgrove’s at West Lawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home in Eugene. Remembrances to Signature Hospice.