Merit N. Vogel, 66, spouse of CSM (Ret) Harry T. Vogel, died peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Saturday, June 4, 2016, following a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer. She was a 3-time cancer survivor. Her fourth bout with cancer, combined with pneumonia, took her life.

Merit was born February 9, 1950, in Camden, New Jersey. She was the oldest daughter of the late Robert Davis and Catherine Taylor of Gloucester, New Jersey.

Merit attended Triton Regional High School, in Runnemede, New Jersey, where she met Harry. They both attended many high school classes together and became high school sweethearts; that's when Harry discovered Merit was smarter than him. They married in April 1968 in a small country church in New Jersey, and then moved to Manahawkin, NJ, by the Atlantic Ocean. When Harry was drafted into the Army in 1969, during the Vietnam Conflict, Merit also began a 30-year career in the US Army as a military wife, traveling all over the world. Merit and Harry were married for 48 years.

In 1970 together they had twin sons, Harry III, and Samuel. As a military family, they were stationed at Fort Devens in Massachusetts; Fort Jackson, SC; Alaska; Fort Bragg, NC; West Point Military Academy, New York; Germany V Corps at Frankfurt; Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis; and then back to Fort Jackson, SC, for their final assignment. While Harry went on three 12-month tours overseas without family, Merit did a magnificent job managing the home and the boys.

Regardless of where Merit was located, she always made her home a place of joy and love. She made every guest that came to dinner, and there were many, comfortable and welcomed. Merit made sure every occasion was celebrated and all holidays were full-blown special events.

During their marriage, Merit traveled to Hawaii, Prague, Czechoslovak, Paris, London, Jamaica, Cancun, Bermuda and many other exotic destinations. Merit was a Master Shopper whom her family nicknamed "Nickels" because she could find deals of a lifetime, always using the excuse, "But honey, it was on sale." Their guess is that is why she chose a career in retail, so she had first access to ALL the sale items.

She was Elvis Presley's # 1 Fan, and she turned the formal dining room of her home into an Elvis museum. During football season she was the New England Patriots # 1 Fan and remained loyal to the Patriots since 1970. All year long she would root for the Patriots to win the Super Bowl. She was right four times. On her bucket list was a date with # 12, Quarterback, Tom Brady. Her # 1 pastime was gambling at the casinos in Atlantic City, NJ; Las Vegas, NV; and Harrah's Cherokee Casino in NC, where she would sit for hours, playing the one-arm-bandits. Yes, she won just about every visit, although her husband knew nothing about her winnings until tax season when the IRS and SC Department of Revenue would question their joint tax returns missing her gambling winnings, resulting in an additional tax payment, along with penalties.

Merit was a believer in giving back to everyone; from Stuff-A-Bus, Muscular Dystrophy, Kohl's Kids, Cancer Walks, or just total strangers that needed some help. Merit would be there, giving everything she had to help someone in need.

She will be greatly missed by her husband of nearly 50 years, Harry; her son, Sam; sisters, Kathy, Janet, Linda and Carol; her brother, Robert; her nieces, Jamie, Jennifer, Jessica, and Autumn; her nephews, Walter, Keith, Kevin, Trevor, Christopher, Wayne and Sean; her granddaughter, Caitlyn; her godchildren Paige and Sarah; the Martin family, cousins, Steve, Alexis, Andrea, Samantha, Dean, Jean, Phillip, and Jimmy; and her Kohl's co-workers and many local friends who have been by her side through all her cancer's ups and downs; Cookie, Teresa, Gloria, Marie, Cora, Sue, Nancy, and Amanda; as well as the entire Kohl's team from the Spring Valley Store #563 led by Gina and Sebrina. To our family and friends, please rest assured in knowing that Heaven has gained another angel, and knowing Merit is watching over us with a smile on her face for everyone that knew and loved her. Right now she is probably with her close friend, Sharon, and her son, Harry III, drinking coffee and jibber jabbing the days away.

Merit worked for Service Merchandise for 20 years as their Jewelry and Diamond Manager, and Kohl's Stores for 15 years as their Administrative Assistant, retiring at 65 on January 1, 2016. She had a wonderful life, was a magnificent woman and mother, exceptional cook, a great listener, a close friend and the best partner a man could have in life.

A special thank you goes to the Palmetto Health Richland ICU doctors, nurses and staff for simply providing the very best health care and support during Merit's last hospital stay; and to her Oncologist, Dr. Steve Madden at Lexington Medical Center, who for years keep her cancer free. Words alone cannot express our family's appreciation and heartfelt thanks.

The funeral for Mrs. Vogel will be held at 7:00 PM, Friday, June 10th, at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Rd. Ext., Columbia. The family will greet friends prior to the service, beginning at 6:00 PM. If you knew Merit, please stop by, she would love to see you.