Zona M. Stapler, 84 of Fultondale, Alabama was thrilled to meet her Lord and Savior on March 10th, 2024. She was born to the late James and Marie Martin on June 14th, 1939 in Kentucky. Zona was a faithful member of Oak Grove Freewill Baptist Church and showed the love of Christ through all of her actions and words to others.
She was kind, truthful, and would share bits of wisdom with you even when it might not be what you wanted to hear but your heart and mind knew it was true. For many years, she drove an Exceptional Ed Bus and had a special bond with her students. She would often prepare homemade biscuits to brighten their day or to encourage them on an upcoming test. She was one of the founders of Wheelin’ Around Square Dance Club in Fultondale, Alabama where she and her husband Sam created many unforgettable memories with their friends. Zona enjoyed sewing, creating crafts, and gardening in her beautiful yard and she would admire all the flowers blooming. She had many names; Zona, Aunt Zona, Mom, Grandma, and Gigi were some she was most proud of; those names brought her family, friends, and anyone who didn’t have a family table to gather around her table where she enjoyed preparing delicious meals, serving her family, and embracing the joyful chaos that arrived when all the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren would gather. The rooms being filled with laughter, memories shared, and new memories being made brought great joy to her heart.
Zona was reunited in heaven with her father, James H. Martin; her mother, Marie Baker Martin; and her grandson, Daniel Merritt. She leaves behind her loving husband of eighteen and a half years, Sam Stapler; her children and their spouses, Cheryl and Dennis Merritt, Donna and Richard Rouse, Gerald and Dina Deason, Pam and Calvin Dunnavant, and Sammy and Callie Stapler; her grandchildren and their spouses, Sheila and Joe Daft, Cana and Andy Grooms, Judah Deason, Kevin and Kalyn Dunnavant, Nathan Dunnavant, Lucas Stapler, and Maggie Stapler; her great-grandchildren, Emmalynn and Juilanne Daft, Willa, Annie, and Arlo Grooms, Jagger, Josiah, Jovi, and Jepplin Dunnavant; and a host of extended relatives and friends.
As saddened as we are to lose such a kind and Godly woman we know how truly excited she was to meet her Savior.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, March 13th, 2024 from 1:00 to 2:30 pm. A Celebration of Zonas' Life will begin at 2:30 pm at Ridout's Gardendale Chapel with a committal service immediately following at Oakwood Memorial Gardens.
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