Obituary of Frances Merritt

Frances Elizabeth (Gray) Merritt was born July 6, 1915 in Grenada Co., MS, the daughter of Maston Oliver Gray and Dillie Trusty Gray. She went to life eternal Sunday, January 5, 2014 in Tulsa, OK at the age of 98. Frances had 2 brothers and 4 sisters: Ervin Gray of Graysport, MS, Rufus Gray of Coffeeville, MS, Jessie Mae Gulledge of Big Creek, MS, Dessie Havens of Coles Creek, MS, Ruth Young of Grenada, MS and Charlcye Hardwick of San Antonio, TX. Frances married Lloyd Carmack Merritt of Coles Creek, MS on November 25, 1933. They lived in Calhoun City, MS before moving to Pascagoula, MS where Carmack worked at Ingalls Ship Building. After attending Northwest College in Senatobia, MS, Frances joined Carmack in Pascagoula and worked at the Ingalls Credit Union as a secretary for 16 years. After Carmack went to heaven in 1990, Frances moved to Tulsa, OK where she had lived for the past 20 years. Frances loved the Lord and served in the church wherever she lived. She taught Sunday School classes at Shiloh Baptist Church in Calhoun County, First Baptist Church in Calhoun City, and Calvary Baptist Church in Pascagoula. She loved to sing in the choir and spent many hours on singing tours with the Pascagoula choir performing "The Messiah." She enjoyed singing with the Melodears and was a very active member of the Keenagers at First United Methodist Church in Tulsa. She served on many committees in these churches especially enjoyed being on the pulpit search committee for several Baptist churches. She and Carmack had 4 children, Benson Keith Merritt of Nashville, TN; Daniel Oliver Merritt of Pascagoula; Nancy Louise Buskirk and Patricia Ann Haswell both of Tulsa, OK. From their children came eight grandchildren; nine great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren. A visitation will be held 10:30 am Thursday, January 9, 2014 at her home church, Abiding Harvest United Methodist Church and a funeral service will follow at 11:00 am. Graveside rites will be held 11:00 am Monday, January 13, 2014 at the Machpelah Cemetery in Pascagoula, MS. In lieu of flowers her children request contributions to the Frances Merritt Memorial Fund at Abiding Harvest United Methodist Church, 4407 South Olive Avenue, Broken Arrow, OK 74011 or at www.abidingharvest.org. Ninde Funeral & Cremation, Tulsa, OK (918) 742-5556 - www.ninde.com