Nancy Rose Merritt

Nancy Rose Merritt, age 75 of Ripley WV, passed away on Monday, September 2, 2019. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and a resident of Hampton-Roads, before retiring to a quiet life in West Virginia where she spent the rest of her days. Nancy proved to the world that love and compassion for all things does exist. Rose, her middle name, couldn’t complete a more perfect representation of who she was to her children and those whom surrounded her. Almost to a fault, she possessed the fortitude to progress through life without a glimpse of a complaint. Instead, she would find comfort in the simplest of things, like her books. She loved to read. Her creativity would shine through her paintings and crocheting. But, above all else she loved being a mother. She lost her father at a very young age. Her mother remarried to Lt Col Harvey F. Meyerpeter and became a USAF "brat", in which she grew up overseas in England and Japan, before the USAF brought the family stateside to Langley Air Force Base. She then found employment at Miller & Rhoads where she met John S. Merritt who became her husband and father of her three sons. She attended the Virginia School of Hair Design and managed the hair salon at Hess’ before retiring. She is preceded in death by her husband John S. Merritt; (father) Harry J. Andersen, (mother) Thelma R. Meyerpeter, (stepfather) Harvey F. Myerpeter and her brothers, Harry J. Andersen Jr. and Michael F. Meyerpeter. Survivors include her brother, David Meyerpeter and wife, Rebecca; her three sons, Sterling Merritt his fiancé, Denise; Michael Merritt his wife, Joanna and their son Ivan; Brock Merritt; Steve Boggess, his daughter Stacy and her daughter Tessa, who she thought of as a granddaughter, and numerous nieces and nephews. A graveside service will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday September 16, 2019 at Parklawn Memorial Park 2551 N. Armistead Ave Hampton, VA 23666. A very special mention goes to her companion Steve Boggess who for the last 30 years stood beside her through thick and thin. She was an avid contributor to the St. Judes Children's Research Hospital and any memorial contributions may be made there. Friends are encouraged to visit www.parklawn-woodfh.com to share memories and offer words of condolence with the family.