MERNA LOIS (HABHEGGER) MAHER

Merna Lois (Habhegger) Maher, 87, of Prior Lake, Minn., died Monday, Oct. 15, 2012, at McKenna Crossing, an assisted-living facility in Prior Lake.

Merna was born April 14, 1925 in Wrenshall, Minn., a town founded by her, great-grandfather, to Charles and Eleanore Habhegger.

She grew up there during the Great Depression, was valedictorian of her high school graduating class of 20, attended the University of Minnesota, and served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II.

After the war, Merna married Lester Cox of Johnson City, Tenn. They resided in Duluth while raising their five children. Lester predeceased her on March 10, 1973.

In 1983, Merna married John Maher of Utica, N.Y., a Harvard graduate and professor of economics at the Univ. of Southern Connecticut. After retiring, they came to reside in Prior Lake in 1995, where John passed away Feb. 15, 2005.

While raising a family of five, Merna was also employed as an advertising copy writer and producer with the I.F.I Agency and television stations KDAL and WDIO of Duluth; as an assistant to the director of the St. Louis County Welfare Department; and after moving to New York, as a producer of educational materials with Guidance Associates, a division of Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

Merna is survived by her sister, Dolores (Dale) Dennie, of Wrenshall; her sons Charles (Joann) Cox and Thomas Cox, of Duluth, and David Cox, of Edina; her daughters Cathleen (William) Wilson, of Webster, Minn., and Teresa (Clayton) Dean, of Broomfield, Colo.; 10 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

The family would like to express special thanks to Becky Cavanagah, Merna's longtime personal care attendant, as well as to the staff of McKenna Crossing for their caring support of Merna during her several-year stay at their facility.

SERVICES: are not planned. Interment will be at St. Patrick's Cemetery, Clayville, N.Y.

The Maher family is served is care and compassion by Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home in Prior Lake, Minn.

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