A funeral service for Mary Ellen “Mert” Barber, 80, of Mt. Vernon, was held at 3 p.m. on Monday, February 19, 2024, at Brucker-Baker Funeral Home, 34 N. Main St., Utica, with Pastor Doug Swan officiating. Burial followed at South Lawn Cemetery. The family received friends from 1-3 p.m. prior to the service.

Mrs. Barber passed away on February 13, 2024 at The Ohio Eastern Star Home in Mt. Vernon. She was born on May 20, 1943 in Mt. Vernon to the late Lester F. and Mary M. (Chidester) Hiles.

Mert was a member of Central Christian Church in Mt. Vernon. She was a retired clerk for Ohio Bell. She worked several years in the deli at Kroger in Mt. Vernon.

She is survived by her sister, Barb (John) Rodeniser; brother, Ed Hiles; nieces and nephews, Cliff (Becky) Rodeniser, Troy (Lisa) Rodeniser, Todd (Jenn) Rodeniser, John (Deb) Hiles, Chris (Donna) Hiles, Stu (Jeanne) Poland, Kris (Paul) Caldwell, Kathy (Randy) Hiles, Sandy (Dave) Hiles and Janelle Hiles; and many great-nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husbands, Wayne Barber and Marvin Wilt; brother, Joseph Hiles; sisters, Garnet Davis and Millie Poland; nephew, Steven L. Davis; sister-in-law, Pat Hiles and brother-in-law, Dick Davis.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Ohio Eastern Star Home, 1451 Gambier Rd. #6, Mt. Vernon, OH 43050. 

To sign an online guestbook, please visit www.law-bakerfuneralhome.com.