E. A. Merrill Mrs.

Mrs. E. A. Merrill, 65, of Stephenville, passed away peacefully in her home on Tuesday, October 21, 2008. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 PM Friday, October 24, 2008 at the First Assembly of God Church of Glen Rose. Burial will follow at Chalk Mountain Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Stephenville Funeral Home. Mrs. Merrill was born Clara Ellen Wilkinson to the late George B. & Essa Faye Wilkinson in Honey Island, Texas on September 19, 1943. She was a 1962 graduate of Kountze High School in Kountze, Texas where she excelled in academics, music, and athletics, where she was Captain of the 1962 Varsity Basketball Team and was then selected to the 1962 All-State Basketball team. She married her husband E. A. Merrill in Kountze, Texas on September 8, 1962. Together they built a wonderful life filled with laughter, love, and fishing. Together they raised seven children, whom gave them seventeen grandchildren. She was a member of Elm Grove Assembly of God, President of the Glen Rose Garden Club, A Master Gardner in the State of Texas, Member of the Stephenville Bass Club, and the Two of Us Bass Club. She has been a resident of Stephenville for 27 years. Mrs. Merrill is survived by her husband of 46 years, E. A. Merrill; her sons, Mark Merrill and wife Debi of Stephenville, Barry Merrill and wife Donna of Glen Rose, Wesley Merrill and wife Ann of Glen Rose, Stephen Merrill and his wife Lacy of Stephenville; daughters, Ellen McGehee and her husband Dion of Keller, Laura Harms and her husband Dwayne of Taylor, and Mary Staples and her husband Randy of Carrollton. Nine grandsons, Richard Merrill and his wife Jessica, John Merrill, Bryan Merrill, Samuel Merrill, Cole Harms, Ethan Staples, Jacob Merrill, Hunter Merrill, and Jeremiah Staples; Granddaughters, Courtleigh Gordon, Emily McGehee, Camille McGehee, Ashley Merrill, Jaime Merrill, Joanna McGehee, Susanna McGehee, and Haley Harms; Brother, David Wilkinson and wife Marlene of Pollock, Louisiana; and numerous nieces and nephews. Mrs. Merrill was preceded in death by her parents, George and Essa Faye Wilkinson; brother, Thurston Nesbit; and sister, Alfie Hill. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, the Fort Worth chapter. For more information, please contact their office at 817.737.9990.