Murriel E. “Mert” Sauers, age 82, resident of Venango, PA for the past 25 years, died Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at Saint Vincent Health Center in Erie. She had been in failing health with multiple health issues. Born on January 29, 1927 in Cambridge Springs, PA, Murriel was the daughter of the late Edwin J. Hindle and Anna M. Houston Hindle. Her first husband, Charles O. Abbott died in 1947 at the age of 19. She subsequently married Norman H. Sauers on August 8, 1953 and he preceded her in death on January 25, 1996.
Sauers, Murriel E. Murriel was dedicated to and enjoyed spending time with her family. Her earliest years were spent working with family on the farm in Edinboro. She previously had worked at the Riverside Inn in Cambridge Springs and at Teledyne-Penn Union in Edinboro. After the retirement of she and her husband, Norman, they owned and operated the Corner Tavern and the Red & White Grocery, both in Venango. Murriel enjoyed playing cards, traveling with her sisters, and spending time in her yard gardening and watching the birds and keeping the squirrels at bay. Murriel had a special bond with all of her grandchildren and spent many hours reciting poetry to them and reminiscing about her childhood and travels.
In addition to her parents and her husbands, Murriel was preceded in death by three brothers – James Hindle, Jack Hindle, and Bobby Hindle and four sisters – Bernice Holmes, Vivian Hindle, Kate Hindle, and Coletta Hindle. Family surviving Murriel include a daughter – Vivian Abbott West of Cambridge Springs; two sons – Donald Sauers and his wife, Janet of Girard, Pa and Henry Sauers and his wife, Katie of Waterford, PA. Also surviving are eight grandchildren – Clint, Logan, and Tiara West; Caroline and Sara Sauers; Kallie, Denton, and Breana Sauers. Also four great grandchildren – Haylie, Quentin, Ciara, and Rowen; three brothers – Joseph “Mike” Hindle of Venango; Lloyd “Skinny” Hindle of Weeki Wachee, FL; and Edgar “Eddie” Hindle of Andover, OH; three sisters – Betty Geidner of Bonita Springs, FL; Pamela “Peggy” Henley of Alabama; and Barbara Smith of Venango.
Friends may call at the Van Matre Family Funeral Home in Cambridge Springs on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 and are invited to attend funeral services there on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Interment will be in Venango Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be given to the Venango Volunteer Fire Department.
Special thanks is extended by the family to Renal Care of Erie and to Jean Gerdon and Barbara Smith both of Venango who always were always present for Murriel in her times of difficulty.