Ila Mae Mertens

Ila Mae Mertens, 84, of Kingsport, TN, passed away on January 27, 2023. Ila worked at the Indiana State Police Department in communications where she met her husband, Ronald Mertens, who was a state trooper at the time. After marrying, they continued to work for the Indiana State Police Department before retiring and becoming missionaries traveling together to multiple countries for more than 20 years. She was a member of Springdale Baptist Church. Ila will be remembered as someone who loved to study the Bible and loved to read.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Mertens; and siblings, Earl F. Rivers, Pauline Ward, Doris Clark, Buford Rivers, and Glenn Rivers.

Ila is survived by 3 sisters, Velma Dobbins, Earletta Huff and Shirley Shuler; 4 brothers, Neil Rivers, Gaye Rivers, Colin Rivers and Jim Rivers; and devoted friends, Libby and Richard Marcus.

The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. on Sunday, January 29, 2023, at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Kingsport. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. with Pastor Allen Buckles officiating.  Music will be provided by Wayne Bledsoe, pianist and Dan Moneyhun, soloist

Burial will follow at East Lawn Memorial Park Mausoleum at 3:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hunger First, 829 Myrtle St., Kingsport, TN 37660 and Shades of Grace, 313 E. Sullivan St., Kingsport, TN 37660.