Julia "Judy" (Holt) Merkle
Marriages
Vincent B. Merkle, Sr. - June 15, 1963
Burial Details
Obituaries
Steamboat Today - February 10, 2018
Julia Holt Merkle, "Judy", age 77 of Atlanta and Steamboat Springs, Colorado died peacefully on Wednesday, February 7, 2018, comforted by her children, after a several years long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. She was the daughter of Frank Ward Holt, III and the former Julia Dancy Hoyt.
Judy was born July 20, 1940 at Emory University in Atlanta. She attended E. Rivers grammar school and graduated in 1958 from Northside High School. Judy spent a year at Queens College in Charlotte, NC before returning to Atlanta to work at The Coca-Cola Company. She met Vincent B. Merkle, Sr. while at Coca-Cola and they married June 15, 1963 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Atlanta. They were married for 24 years, raising two children, Vincent B. Merkle, Jr. and Julia Dancy, before divorcing in 1987. Judy and Vincent Sr. remained close friends until the time of his death in 2012.
A loving mother, Judy had many interests and passions including gardening and being in her yard; photography and her many photo albums; family genealogy and traveling by car across the county. Judy was always thrilled to orchestrate her high school class reunions, all the while keeping in touch with her high school classmates and friends. She enjoyed spending time at her second home in Steamboat Springs and making new friends there. While her kids were in school, she enjoyed volunteering at the Lovett School and serving on the Atlanta Young Life board.
Judy was a member of the Atlanta Debutante Club, the Atlanta Botanical Garden and the Georgia Botanical Garden in Athens, Georgia.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Julia Dancy (Detlev McIlhany) of Dayton, Oregon; her son and daughter-in-law, Vincent B. Merkle, Jr. (Paige); grandchildren, Holt, Whitney and Brooks Merkle; her sister, Dee Holt George (Ross); cousins; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, as well as her sisters, Frances Holt Lanier and Elizabeth Reid Holt and by many beloved dogs.
The family would like to thank the Healthcare staff and caregivers at Lenbrook for their care and dedication during this time and a special thanks to Lynn Young for her personal attention and care to Judy during these past two years.
Funeral services will be held, Saturday, February 17, 2018 at Patterson's Spring Hill at 10 am. Burial will follow at Westview Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to a reception following at the Piedmont Driving Club.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Fort Collins, CO; the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA; the Yampa River Botanic Park, Steamboat Springs, CO; or the Cure Alzheimer's Fund, Wellesley Hills, MA.
The family will receive friends Friday, February 16 from 2 until 4 at H.M. Patterson & Son, Spring Hill, 1020 Spring St. NW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30309
