Sarah L. Merchant, 60, of Junction City WI passed away on September 12th 2025 surrounded by family, leaving behind a life full of love, laughter, and grit that will carry on through the many people she touched.

Born on February 8th 1965 in Wausau, WI to Alphonsus and Patricia Taylor, she grew up with a deep appreciation for the natural world. She loved all creatures great and small (except spiders), especially her beloved "humble bumbles", her orioles, and the robins that returned to her yard each spring. Her garden was her sanctuary, a place where patience, joy, and a little dirt under the nails turned into something beautiful.

She and her husband, Dale Merchant, recently celebrated 35 years of marriage on September 1st. Their marriage is a perfect example of opposites attract, Dale being a man of few words, and Sarah having enough words for the two of them. Although they could not agree on everything, they agreed that they loved their kids and each other, and they were in it for the long run.

Caring for others came naturally to her, and she made it her life's work. She was more than a mother to her children, she was "Mom" to everyone. Her home was always open, her table always had room, and she had a way of making people feeling loved as they were. But don't mistake her kindness for weakness, she was strong, fiercely protective of the people she loved, and absolutely not one to take any nonsense. That mix of love and backbone made her unforgettable.

She met challenges the same way she lived: head-on, with courage, humor, and a stubborn streak that never wavered.

She is survived by her husband of 35 years, Dale Merchant; her children, Travis (Gina) Taylor of Escondido, CA, Crystal (Martin) Jagodinski of Clarksville, TN, and Alan (Brittney) Merchant of Rudolph, WI; her grandchildren, Jay Merchant and Alyssa Morse; her siblings, Joy Taylor and Sean Taylor; her nieces, Jennifer (Mike) Beran and Leah Blackwell; her nephews, Aaron (Angie) Bornowski and Sebastian Taylor; and her great-nephew, AJ Bornowski.

Several "kids" including but certainly not limited to, DylAna Maas, Matthew Grabski, Nicole Willfahrt, Emiley Rucinski, Antone Plaski, Michael Schneider, countless friends who will forever carry her love, and her fire in their hearts. She was preceded in death by her parents Alphonsus (Al) & Patricia (Pat) Taylor & brothers Claude (Spud) and David Taylor.

Her legacy is found in every garden that blooms, every bird that sings, and every person who dares to live with both kindness and strength, just as she did.

There will be no formal memorial. In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to plant something in her honor, feed the birds, or smile when you see a bumblebee, she certainly would.