Merle Lucille (Moyle) Audette, age 85 of Silver City, passed away on March 24, 2014 at Medora House, PortagePointe, Hancock, MI where she had been a resident for 18 months.

She was born to David, Sr. and Lucille (Michel) Moyle on December 20, 1928 in Calumet, MI.  She graduated from Calumet High School and lived on the Moyle Farm until she married Norman Audette on September 21,1948.

Merle and Norm made their life together for 52 years, mostly in Union Bay, near Silver City on the banks of the Union River where they raised their six children, and built and operated the Union River Campground. Together they enjoyed entertaining family and friends in their home. Merle loved people and her special talents were cooking and meeting the needs of those around her. She will be remembered for her kind and gentle spirit. She and her husband were founding members of St. Jude's Catholic Church in White Pine.

Prior to her life at PortagePointe, Merle lived at The Bluffs Assisted Living in Houghton for six years. Merle was an avid reader and loved to play Scrabble.

Merle leaves behind her six children: Norman (Susan) Audette of Sagola, MI, Maureen (George) Heaton of Boyne City, MI, Fay (Gordon) Bush of Rockford, MI, Daniel (Debra) Audette of Marquette, Betsy (Gordon) Pekuri of Ironwood, MI and Steven (Lori) Audette of Las Vegas, NV. She adored her 14 grandchildren: Jeffrey Heaton, Carrie Fisher, Melanie Walker, Rebecca Pirtle, Jason Audette, Daniel J. Audette, Jenny Carroll, Joshua Pekuri, Eli Pekuri, Jennifer Johnson, Diana Rautio, Kevin Audette, Michael Audette, Jack Audette, and 26 great grandchildren. Merle is also survived by four sisters: Alice (Ronald) Ziemnick of Bootjack, Mary Lou (Ben) Leiker of Bootjack, Janet Dudenas (Michael) of Mohawk, and Margaret (Vernon) Axford of Lake Linden, one brother, Gordon (Maryrose) Moyle of Negaunee, sisters-in-laws June Aho (Rodney) Roehm of Marengo, WI, Madelyn Saladin of White Pine, Mary Jane Moyle of Laurium, Lorraine Moyle of Hancock, and Ethel Moyle of Laurium, and brother- in-law Gervase (Lorraine) Audette of Naples, Fl. She also leaves numerous nieces, nephews and many friends, including special friend Su-Shen.

She is preceded in death by her husband Norman, her parents, her mother in-law Isabelle Audette, brothers David, Tom and Don Moyle, and grandson Erik Bush.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St.Judes Catholic Church in White Pine at 11:00am on Thursday, March 27, 2014 with Father Michael Jacobus officiating, and assisted by Deacon Terry Saunders.The family will greet visitors at the church one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Holy Family Cemetery, Ontonagon, MI. Contributions in Merle's memory can be made to St. Vincent DePaul, 205 Quartz St., Ontonagon, MI.

The Cane Funeral Home of Ontonagon is assisting the family.