How Ellen works into this story

A bit of explanation on how Leila Ellen Merkley -- runs into this immediate family circle:

Ellen's mother was Rachel Merkley Murray- she was a sister to Nelson Merkley Jr.

"Rachel Merkley Murray, circa 1902 with hat"
From the personal albums of Ellen Fletcher

According to what I've been told (and PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong), Ellen was apparently the tail end of a bunch of kids for Rachel and her husband, and unfortunately Rachel died soon after giving birth to little Ellen around 1917.  Ellen's father was overwhelmed and asked Nelson and Keturah if they wouldn't mind taking her on as their charge.  So even though Nelson and Keturah's youngest child (Margret) was in her teens at the time, Ellen Merkley was welcomed into the family and raised as their own, even though her own father and siblings lived elsewhere in the same town.
For these reasons, confusion crops up when family group sheets are organized as Ellen grew up as part of Nelson and Keturah's family, but she was technically their niece as far as tracing lines goes.

"Mother's Day 1918, Mary M Sander and little Ellen Merkley"
From personal albums of Ellen Fletcher

"Mary Sander and Ellen Merkley- Mother's Day 1918, Vernal"
From personal albums of Ellen Fletcher

"Ellen Merkley 2 years old, 1919 Vernal on the farm"
From personal albums of Ellen Fletcher

"Ellen Merkley, age 4"
From personal albums of Sarah Nielsen

"About 1921- Margret Merkley, Grandfather Nelson Merkley Jr, Ellen Murray Merkley"
From personal albums of David Ahrnsbrak

"Ellen and Keturah, Farmington NM, circa 1932"
From personal albums of Ellen Fletcher

So even though Ellen was a cousin to Asher, she related better to the children of all her cousins, and was considered the eldest of the granddaughters.

"1929 at Grandma (Keturah) Merkley's home- Grandma Keturah, Ellen Murray holding baby Carolyn Sander, Margret Merkley holding baby Kathleen Merkley, ?, Kathryn Sander, Virginia Merkley, Geraldine Merkley, ? Elizabeth, June Sander."
From personal albums of David Ahrnsbrak

Ellen in the 1940's
From the personal albums of Ellen Fletcher

Because Ellen is still living, I'll hold off on posting any other information on her for now.  But just for a clarification measure on how she ties in to the family, there you have it.