1943
Johnnie
2016
Johnnie Merrill
March 22, 1943 — April 6, 2016
Johnnie Mae Merrill, age 73, found peace on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 in the arms of the angels. She passed away at Abilene Regional Hospital following a brief stay. Her final days were spent surrounded by family that loved and cherished her as a wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and sister.
Johnnie was born on March 22, 1943 to Woodrow and Avelon Harris in Rising Star, Texas. She enjoyed sharing stories of growing up in Rising Star, surrounded by her parents and grandparents, Bertha and Ellis Harris. She graduated from Rising Star High School in 1961. On August 1, 1961 Johnnie married her high school sweetheart, James R. Merrill of Pioneer, Texas. During their 55 years of marriage Johnnie and James, with their 6 children, made their home in Rankin, Sonora, Coleman, Williams and Rising Star, Texas. Johnnie was a homemaker who enjoyed cooking and sewing for her family; and later enjoyed feeding the redbirds, doves, sparrows, squirrels, and rabbits. She also enjoyed watching the flurry of hummingbird wings as they flocked to her hummingbird feeders. She loved to pamper her beloved pets, Boudreaux and Tilley.
She was preceded by her parents, Woodrow and Avelon Harris; in-laws, F. L. and Lorain Merrill; and her youngest son, James "Mike" Merrill.
She leaves her husband of 55 years, James Merrill of Rising Star to cherish her memory, as well as her sister, Sammie Lee Turner and husband, Jim Turner of Azle; her children, Pam Tankersley and husband, Scott of Coleman, Texas; Judy Fawcett and husband, Lee of Gordon, Texas; John Merrill and Suzanne Todd of Ft. Worth, Texas; Sondra Pope and husband, Landon of Burkett, Texas; and Sallie Boyett and her husband, Donovon Boyett of Moran, Texas; 16 Grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Harold Merrill and wife, Ophelia of Pioneer, Texas; and sister-in-law, Barbara McAnally and husband, Larry of Brownwood; and many nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday Morning, April 9, 2016 at 11:00 am at the First Baptist Church in Rising Star, Texas at 306 North Main Street. Friends and relatives are invited and may call on the Merrill Family at their home in Rising Star. A private burial service will be conducted at a later date.
Johnnie was born on March 22, 1943 to Woodrow and Avelon Harris in Rising Star, Texas. She enjoyed sharing stories of growing up in Rising Star, surrounded by her parents and grandparents, Bertha and Ellis Harris. She graduated from Rising Star High School in 1961. On August 1, 1961 Johnnie married her high school sweetheart, James R. Merrill of Pioneer, Texas. During their 55 years of marriage Johnnie and James, with their 6 children, made their home in Rankin, Sonora, Coleman, Williams and Rising Star, Texas. Johnnie was a homemaker who enjoyed cooking and sewing for her family; and later enjoyed feeding the redbirds, doves, sparrows, squirrels, and rabbits. She also enjoyed watching the flurry of hummingbird wings as they flocked to her hummingbird feeders. She loved to pamper her beloved pets, Boudreaux and Tilley.
She was preceded by her parents, Woodrow and Avelon Harris; in-laws, F. L. and Lorain Merrill; and her youngest son, James "Mike" Merrill.
She leaves her husband of 55 years, James Merrill of Rising Star to cherish her memory, as well as her sister, Sammie Lee Turner and husband, Jim Turner of Azle; her children, Pam Tankersley and husband, Scott of Coleman, Texas; Judy Fawcett and husband, Lee of Gordon, Texas; John Merrill and Suzanne Todd of Ft. Worth, Texas; Sondra Pope and husband, Landon of Burkett, Texas; and Sallie Boyett and her husband, Donovon Boyett of Moran, Texas; 16 Grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Harold Merrill and wife, Ophelia of Pioneer, Texas; and sister-in-law, Barbara McAnally and husband, Larry of Brownwood; and many nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday Morning, April 9, 2016 at 11:00 am at the First Baptist Church in Rising Star, Texas at 306 North Main Street. Friends and relatives are invited and may call on the Merrill Family at their home in Rising Star. A private burial service will be conducted at a later date.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Johnnie Merrill, please visit our flower store.
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