Mary Ellen Dolgener Merkel, the youngest child of Albert Dolgener and Leona Mae Miller, born February 25, 1939, at Liberty Hill, TX. Older siblings Mae Nell, Sam, and Jimmie doted on her. She was a girly girl. Mary Ellen and her best friend Shirley Ann loved playing with their dolls and playing house.

In the early 1940's the family moved to New Braunfels, where Mary Ellen attended elementary and high school. She graduated from New Braunfels High School in 1957 and attended business college in San Antonio. She not only received recognition for her ability to take shorthand she was also top in her class in typing. Mary Ellen could type well over 100 words per minute.

In the early 1960's Mary Ellen and her sister, Jimmie, moved to Texas City. Jimmie taught school while Mary Ellen worked in Galveston for Monsanto as a secretary. It was while living in Texas City, Mary Ellen met her first husband, Hugh Wooten. She and Hugh married and lived in Louisiana. After a short marriage Mary Ellen and Hugh divorced. Afterwards, Mary Ellen moved back to New Braunfels.

She worked as a legal secretary at Bartrum, Raegan, and Burris in New Braunfels and later worked for the Tony & Gordon Sauer law firm in Fredericksburg for over 20 years.

In the mid 1970's, Mary Ellen moved to Fredericksburg to be near her brother Sam Dolgener and sister Mae Nell Schumann.

On September 26, 1992, Mary Ellen married Water (Dub) Merkel. They were married for 13 years before Walter passed on to Heaven. While married they loved to travel, including a trip of a lifetime to England and Scotland. They were "remarried" at Gretna Green Scotland.

Mary Ellen loved to travel when she was in her 20's she and her sister, Jimmie, and along with two other friends traveled throughout Louisiana and Mississippi. Later she made trips with brother, Sam, and his family and Jimmie's family throughout the US.

After her husband passed, Mary Ellen moved to Mason for a fresh start where she was active in Bluebonnet Study Club and the Red Hatters Society. She attended Calvary Lighthouse Church. She was also regular at the Senior Center and met with her friends regularly for coffee.

Although Mary Ellen never had children of her own, she was popular with her nieces and nephews. Everyone loved her mischievous sense of humor and was always up for an adventure. Mary Ellen loved dachshund dogs, collecting salt and pepper shakers, quilting with Dub, travelling, and music.

In 2017, Mary Ellen's health began to decline and realized she needed medical care. She moved to assisted living in Llano and later in San Antonio. In 2022, Mary Ellen's family moved her back to Mason where she could be near family and receive in home care. She had some excellent caregivers including Yolanda Garza and Sonya Castillo. In April 2026 it was decided to move Mary Ellen to San Saba Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. The folks in San Saba gave wonderful care to Mary Ellen in last months of her life.

Mary Ellen passed quietly on to her heavenly home early Tuesday morning June 23, 2026, while "O Come Angel Band" sung by the Gaither Vocal Band was playing. She is survived by one sister, Jimmie Hitzfelder, sister-in-law, Judy Dolgener, stepdaughter Judy Johnson, nephews Justin Dolgener and wife Mitzie, Rodney Dolgener and wife Angie, Arlon Schumann and wife Denise. Nieces Rebecca Dolgener Fisher and husband Ralph, Mary Lynn Schumann Rusche and husband Ray, Wanda Hitzfelder Rueffer and husband Eddie and Jennifer Hitzfelder Foster and husband Josh.  She is preceded in death by her parents Albert and Leona Dolgener, one sister Mae Nell Schumann and husband Alfred, brother Rev Sam Dolgener and first wife Frankie, and brother-in-law Herman Hitzfelder.

Graveside services will be held June 26, 2026, at Greenwood Cemetery in Fredericksburg. Officiant was Rev. Justin Dolgener. Pall bearers were Rodney Dolgner, Kris Dolgener, JT Dolgener, Tyson Rusche, Rudi Fisher, and Sammy Fisher.

The family would like to thank Solaris Hospice and for their help and care for the last two years of Mary Ellen's life. We would like to give special recognition to Charlotte, Ashley, Sonni, Christina, and Rena these ladies were wonderful and always treated Mary Ellen with care and respect.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at masonfuneralhome.net