Merril T. Cartwright

Merril T. Cartwright, 81, of Booneville, died Friday, July 22, 2011, at his home. He has been retired for 25 years from being in vocational education. He spent the first half of his occupational years as a teacher of Vocational Agricultural Education – the first year at Merigold and next four at Kossuth, MS – the others at Booneville High School. The last years of his career were at the Prentiss County Vocational School – which he conceived, built, furnished, hired personnel and ensured its successful beginning.

During his growing up years he lived on a farm in the Osborne Creek Community. He graduated from Booneville High School in 1948, went to Northeast Miss. Community College, and attended Mississippi State College – earning a B.S. and Masters Degree. He excelled in the FFA Organization – being one of the two in Prentiss County to be elected a National FFA Officer.

As an FFA Advisor, he had numerous State FFA Officers, and worked actively with the organization. It made him so happy that his son was a State FFA President, his daughter was a State FHA President, and his son-in-law was also a State FFA President.

He has been a member of the Cattlemen’s Assn. – which went along with his cattle farming that he loved - as well as the Miss. Farm Bureau.

He was a long-time member of the Booneville Rotary Club, President for several terms, and was named a Paul Harris Fellow.

He was a Methodist all his life. He has been a member since 1950 at the Booneville First United Methodist Church. During his younger years, he taught Sunday School there.

Funeral services will be 2:00 pm on Sunday, July 24, 2011 at McMillan Funeral Home with Bro. Phillip Box, Dr. Cliff Cartwright, and Minister Doug Greenway officiating. Burial will be in the Booneville Cemetery.

He is survived by his wife, Laura Windham Cartwright; one son, Dr. Cliff Cartwright and his wife Carolyn; one daughter, Christi Cartwright Allen and her husband Dr. Johnny; three grandchildren, Wesley Cartwright and his wife Carmen, Jessica Allen Morris and her husband Jonethan, and John Allen, Jr. and his fiance’ Kayla Rowland; one brother Travis Cartwright and his wife Eula Mae.

Visitation will be from 5-9 pm on Saturday, July 23, 2011, and 10 am until service time on Sunday at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be James Moffitt, Buddy Smith, Ray Gentry, Roddy Jackson, Gary Spencer, and Billy Joe McCoy.