Merle Louise (Denton) Stewart, 80, passed away on Monday, October 10, 2016. She was born August 17, 1936 in Pike County to Raymond A. and Mildred Marie (Keeton) Denton. She married Paul Stewart on February 5, 1956. During her travels as a Marine wife, Merle learned to enjoy the ethnic foods of the area in which the family was stationed. She particularly enjoyed cooking Asian cuisine. Her hobbies were music, drawing, cooking and gardening. During her travels, Merle worked for the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers and the Department of the Navy, while in Hawaii. She also worked for the Department of the Navy in Washington, DC. Most recently she worked for the Social Security Office of Hearings and Appeals in Evansville, IN where she retired from in 2005. Survivors are a son, Mark A. Stewart of Patoka, IN; sisters, Margaret Stewart of Patoka, Francis Jane Denton Kinman of Nalcrest, FL; brothers, Ray Denton of San Diego, CA and Rev. Frederic Denton of Evansville, IN; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by an infant son, Mathew Raymond Stewart in 1969; her husband of 40 years, Paul Stewart in 1996; both her father Raymond Denton in1995 and her mother Mildred Marie (Keeton) Denton in 2007. Funeral services will be held at 4 PM on Saturday, October 15, 2016 at the Colvin Funeral Home in Princeton, with Rev. Frederic Denton officiating. Burial will be in the Williams Cemetery in Pike County, IN. Visitation will be from 2 until 4 PM on Saturday at the Colvin Funeral Home. Memorial contribution may be made to New Covenant Baptist Church, 901 West Broadway, Princeton, IN 47670. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. You may leave a message of sympathy or light a memorial candle at www.colvinfuneralhome.com