Carol Leitzel

Carol Ann Mertz Leitzel, age 63, was born in the early morning of September 18, 1956, to Willie E. and Vernell Schilling Mertz of Burton, Texas. She earned her wings to enter Heaven after a courageous battle with metastatic breast cancer for six years on August 10, 2020.

The visitation will be from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, August 13, 2020 at Memorial Oaks Chapel. The family will be present 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. during the visitation.

The funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m., Friday, August 14, 2020 at Memorial Oaks Chapel with Deacon Cindy Robles officiating. Burial will be at Emmanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery at Greenvine.

Carol was baptized on November 5, 1956 by Pastor Theo F. Sager and confirmed on Palm Sunday, March 22, 1970, by Pastor W.C. Poehlmann in the Lutheran faith at Emmanuel Lutheran Church at Greenvine, Texas. Carol attended Burton schools and graduated as salutatorian of the Class of 1975 on May 22. She attended Blinn Junior College, earning an Associate degree, and was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society on May 15, 1977. She also attended Austin Community College.

Austin, Texas became her home for the next 30 years while being employed by the State Department of Health as a Quality Environmental Specialist. She became a member of Faith Lutheran Church. She participated in the Ladies’ Circle WELCA. Carol returned to Brenham after her retirement in 2007. She became active once again in Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Greenvine. She spent time volunteering until her health began to fail. She helped with Vacation Bible School, the Burton Bridge Ministries, the Washington County Healthy Living Association Senior Center, Alston Elementary School, the Bosom Buddies Cancer Support group and the “Bodacious Babes” Red Hat Ladies

In her leisure time she enjoyed camping at Caddo Lake, hand stitchery, macramé and making sequined and beaded calendars annually for her mother. Pastimes were reading, going to movies with friends and spending time with family.

Carol is survived by her mother, Vernell Schilling Mertz; her sister Darlene “Dottie” Herrmann (Gene); her brother Dale Mertz (Penny); nieces, Christi Herrmann Nelson (Billy) and Ashlea Herrmann; nephew, Nicholas Banker (Jackie); great-nieces, Leah, Raney and Brooklyn Nelson, and Layla and Madeline Banker; her two uncles, Leroy Schilling and Melvin Schilling (Dorothy); as well as numerous cousins and friends.

Preceding her in death were her father, Willie E. Mertz; her grandparents, Wilhelm and Florence Williams Mertz and Adolph and Olga Makowsky Schilling; seven aunts; four uncles; and eight cousins.

Pallbearers will include Billy Nelson, David Mertz, Marlyn Doppelhammer, Glen Schilling, Henry Santana Jr. and Ralph Thiemer. Honorary pallbearers will be Kailee Saltarelli, Jane Mullett, Yvette Stewart, Jolene Wickel, Tommy Nettle, as well as WCHLA and Burton Bridge Ministries employees.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to all of the staff of the High Hope Care Center, Brazos Valley Hospice for their love and care and to all of her friends and family for their calls, cards and snacks provided to her during her stay at HHCC.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial be made to Bosom Buddies, 405 Country Place West Dr., Brenham, TX 77833; the Burton Bridge Ministries, P.O. Box 68, Burton, TX 77835; the WCHLA Senior Center, P.O. Box 401, Brenham, TX 77834; and Emmanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund, 6700 Wickel Rd., Burton, TX 77835.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main St., Brenham, TX 77833, 979-836-4564.

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