Merle was born on the old homestead in Ozark, Alabama. She was the daughter of Tee Webster and Emma Luella Head Glover. Merle was raised in Ozark, Alabama. She grew up during the depression era on a small farm in Alabama. They had no running water, electricity or indoor plumbing. She washed her clothes in an iron pot on an open fire and scrubbed her clothing with homemade lye soap. They had a smokehouse and butchered their own hogs. She grew up using a horse drawn carriage. They grew their own food and canned their vegetables. The family were owners of the first car in Dale County, they had the first radio and listened to the Grand Ole Opry. As a family they would gather around and listen every Saturday. She did her school work by Kerosene lamp. They were the first to have electric lights in Ozark run by battery. During her childhood she learned to be reliable and respectful.
After graduating high school, Merle attended two years of Business College in Dothan, Alabama. Her favorite course was typing. She enjoyed working in Belk's department store. On February 1, 1948 Merle married the love of her life, Luther William Carter, Jr. "Bill" in the court house of Early County, Georgia.
Merle enjoyed spending time working on her various hobbies. Her favorite pursuits were cooking, sewing, cake decorating, ceramics, and bowling. Merle was a member of the Gulf Breeze Ladies Bowling League for over 40 years and enjoyed watching baseball and bowling. Merle also enjoyed volunteering and was a volunteer for ten years at West Florida Hospital and served on the Sunshine Volunteer Committee there. She loved traveling, especially going to Yellow Stone National Park, Cuba, Washington D.C. and many other places.
Merle loved her pets, Polly, a double yellow-headed amazon parrot, who was a best friend for thirty-five years, her Boxer, Cocker Spaniel, Saint Bernard, Great Pyrenees, and her German Shepherd.
She is survived by brother Terry Glover, two daughters Claudette C. Hodge and husband Quincy, Stephanie Kusnerek, seven grandchildren Ryan Hodge and wife Kayla, Megan Hodge and Ian McCord, Jonathan Kusnerek, Dianna Kusnerek Baugh and husband Chad, Danielle Kusnerek Hammond and husband Glenn, Benjamin Kusnerek and Matthew Kusnerek, three great grandchildren, along with many extended family members and a host of wonderful friends.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, January 26, 2020 at Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel, with the family receiving friends from 1:00 p.m. until service time. Interment will follow at Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel.
BAYVIEW FISHER-POU CHAPEL, 3351 Scenic Highway is entrusted with arrangements. Condolences may be offered at www.bayviewfisher-pouchapel.com.
