October 3, 1925 – August 23, 2020
Eleta Ramona (Merritt) Kantner, 94, born October 3, 1925 in Waldron, Ind. (Shelby County), passed away peacefully in her home on August 23, 2020. She was born to Walter C. and Alma D. (Moore) Merritt of Union City, Ind.
She grew up in Union City with her two sisters and graduated from Union City High School in 1943. While in high school she was active in music and played trombone in the marching band. Eleta married Richard Mac Kantner on October 25, 1947, and after starting their family moved to Noblesville in 1954, where they raised their two children. She soon acquired her beloved and lifelong nickname “Bootie” from her young children.
Bootie worked for over 20 years at JC Penney on the square in Noblesville. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Noblesville where she sang in the church choir. Bootie also sang with the Sweet Adelines and enjoyed cross-stitch, gardening, sewing, reading and playing cards. She loved children and after raising her own, she enjoyed and helped care for her grandchildren.
Bootie is proceeded in death by her husband, Richard Mac Kantner; her parents, Walter C. and Alma D. Merritt; her sister, Carlene McCorkle; and her grandson, Barry Mac Kantner.
She is survived by her sister, Earlene Merritt-Borah, Sequim, Wash.; daughter, Susan A. Williams, Noblesville; son, Randy Mac Kantner, Whitestown; grandchildren, Karla (Stephen) Dirks, Oro Valley, Ariz., Julia A. Biedenmeister, Indianapolis, Allison L. Kantner, Cicero; and three great-grandchildren, Aiden Kantner, Emma G. Dirks and Kellen D. Dirks.
Our family would like to express heartfelt thanks to the loving and excellent caregivers at Heartland Hospice.
Services will be private. Burial will be at Flanner & Buchanan Oaklawn Memorial Gardens in Fishers. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Eleta Kantner to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund at curealz.org.
Condolences: flannerbuchanan.com