Obituary: Mary Gibson Merritt

Mary Frances Gibson Merritt, 90, of North Little Rock, died Sept. 17, 2009. She was born June 11, 1919, to Paul G. and Ruth Loraine Howard Gibson in Old Austin (Lonoke County).

On March 31, 1938, she married Dennis Elton Merritt of Faulkner County at the courthouse in Saline County. They were married for more than 50 years until his death on March 1, 1989. Frances was the devoted wife of a Missouri Pacific Railroad engineer and mother of three daughters. Her life revolved around her family. She loved being a wife, mother, grandmother and especially during the last several years enjoyed hearing about the lives and escapades of her growing group of great-grandchildren.

Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Victor Franklin Gibson, Julian Maynard Gibson and Joseph Aulan Gibson; one sister, Janice Juanita Phillips; a nephew, Ronnie Harvey; and a great-niece, Tara Beth Haynie.

She leaves to cherish her memory three daughters, Ruth (Raymond) Clinton and Carole Hoofman, both of North Little Rock, and Annette (Sidney) Fitzgerald of Mabelvale; two grandsons, Mark Clinton (Kim) of North Little Rock and Ryan Fitzgerald (Brenna) of Sherwood; three granddaughters, Michelle Clinton (Marc) Daniel of North Little Rock, Ragan Hoofman (Chuck) Milner of Tupelo, Miss., and Cory Fitzgerald (David) Love of South Hill, Va.; 10 great-grandsons, Joshua Clinton of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., Benjamin Clinton, Joseph Clinton and Drew Daniel of North Little Rock, Coltin and Chance Milner of Tupelo, Miss., Micah and Nathan Love of South Hill, Va., and Cade and Jude Fitzgerald of Sherwood; one great-granddaughter, Shana Love of South Hill, Va.

She is also survived by one sister, Jean Elizabeth Harvey of Beebe; her nieces and nephews, Junior Phillips (Jeannie) and Jimmy Phillips (Connie) of North Little Rock, Ruth Ellen Harvey Haynie of Beebe and Patsy Merritt (Harold) Russell of Granbury, Texas; and extended family and friends who will all miss her very much.

Her daughters would like to express their thanks to Mary House, Sammie Key, Betty Weatherford and Tami White, the wonderful caregivers who made it possible for their mother to remain in her own home during most of her long illness. Thanks also to the nurses and staff at Northridge Healthcare Health and Rehabilitation Facility and Arkansas Hospice for their compassionate care for the last 20 months.

A special “thank you” goes to Irvin Daniel, who frequently visited Mom in the nursing home and always brought a bouquet of fresh flowers to brighten her room and her day. 

Funeral Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Faith Baptist Church, with Brother Jeff Hulsizer officiating.  The family will receive friends from 10-11 a.m. at the church.  Interment will be 2:30 p.m. at Old Austin Cemetery, Ward.

Memorials may be made to Arkansas Hospice at 5600 West 12th St., Little Rock, AR 72204, or Faith Baptist Church building fund, 109 Tanglewood Drive, North Little Rock, AR 72118.

Online guest book: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/owens