Dana D. Mehler

Dana D. (Boyd) Mehler, 104, of Hutsonville, IL, passed away peacefully on May 15, 2024, at Crawford Memorial Hospital in Robinson, IL. She was born in Hutsonville Township on March 25, 1920, to Parmer & Lottie (Elliott) Boyd, who provided her with a childhood she fondly recalled throughout her long and remarkable life. Growing up during the Great Depression, Dana experienced a world without the conveniences of modern technology. She remembered with delight the moment her family first got electricity, marveling at the single light bulb in their home. Despite the challenges of the era, her childhood was filled with the joys of farm life, including raising chickens, helping with her father's beekeeping, and savoring her mother's exceptional cooking. Education and music were the twin threads that wove the tapestry of her youth, with each piano note and schoolhouse lesson stitching her character with resilience and harmony.

A proud 1938 graduate of Hutsonville High School, Dana's thirst for knowledge led her to Terre Haute Business College, where she prepared for a future as bright as the Chicago skyline. Her diligence and skill secured her prominent roles in the accounting departments of Sears & Roebuck and Montgomery Ward, a testament to the mettle and ambition of this enterprising young woman. As fate would have it, her time in Chicago was but a prelude to a lifelong duet with Henry "Ransom" Mehler, whom she married on December 24, 1941. Their union, forged on the eve of Ransom's wartime service, was a testament to love's endurance. In the years following, Dana's creativity and determination flourished as she co-designed and helped build the family home - a sanctuary of love, laughter, and memories for them and their four children.

Her hands painted life onto china and canvas, threaded beauty into garments and quilts, and sculpted the earth into a bountiful garden. Her legacy of creativity and artistry is lovingly carried on by her grandchildren. Dana's passion for genealogy anchored her family's story in the bedrock of history, ensuring their roots would never be forgotten. Her affiliation with The Daughters of the American Revolution and the Hutsonville Historical Society further reflected her commitment to her heritage and community. Dana's collection of clippings and mementos was not just a hobby but a vibrant archive of a life steeped in curiosity and a desire to hold onto the threads that weave the fabric of time.

In Dana's life, music was not merely a hobby but a calling that resonated through the chords of her church's piano and organ. She was the musical heartbeat of Hutsonville First Christian Church, where deep friendships flourished and an even deeper faith was nurtured. Because of her faith, we can trust that her earthly departure was not a final chord but a crescendo into a realm beyond our sight. May the beautiful melody of her life's masterpiece continue to echo in our own lives until we meet again!

She is survived by her two sons & daughters-in-law, Gale Dean & Glenda Mehler and Marvin Ray & Martha Mehler; her daughter & son-in-law, Sara & Robert Rayhel; her daughter-in-law, Libby Mehler; by five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; as well as several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Ransom Mehler; her parents, Parmer & Lottie Boyd; her brother, Norman L. Boyd; and her son, Stephen Boyd Mehler.

It was Dana's wish to be cremated, and the Goodwine Funeral Home in Robinson is in charge of these arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the Daughters of the American Revolution ("DAR"), and memorial envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Her family will conduct a private service on June 8th.