MERTIE E. BOWLES, age 89, of Portage, passed away Monday, January 12, 2015. She was born in Lucasville, OH on March 20, 1925. She was a resident of Indiana since 1964 and a member of the Community of Christ Church. She was a member AARP and the Bonner Center where she enjoyed volunteering. Mertie will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend.

She is survived by 2 daughters, Connie Pratt of Crown Point and Karla (Richard) Pieszchala of Westville; 4 grandchildren, Wesley Pratt, Jason (Beth) Pieszchala, Mitzi (Luis) Quintana, and Samantha (Matt) Roach; 8 great grandchildren; 1 sister, Mildred (Howard) Bentley of Columbus, OH; nieces, nephews and other loving family; and special friend, Olean Todd.

Mertie was preceded in death by her husband, Fred C. Bowles; parents, Abe and Samantha Mullins; 4 brothers, John, Denver, Albert, and Carl; 7 sisters, Mable, Myrtle, Louise, Emma, Alma, Marjorie, and Geraldine Colley.

A funeral service for Mertie will be Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Rees Funeral Home, Hobart Chapel, 600 W. Old Ridge Rd., with Rev. Donald Good officiating. Burial will follow at Calumet Park Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday, January 19, 2015 from 2:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at Rees Funeral Home, (219) 942-2109 or www.reesfuneralhomes.com