Lawanna Joette Merrill

Lawanna Joette Merrill, 77 of Amarillo passed away July 20, 2012. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 24, 2012 at Memorial Park Cemetery, Chapel of Memories with Jeff Messer, Chaplain at Childers Place officiating. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 I-40 East.

Lawanna Joette Merrill was born in Mountain View, Oklahoma. She was joined in marriage to Eben Dean Merrill in Clinton, Oklahoma on February 18, 1958. They farmed cotton and wheat until they moved to Amarillo. They raised their four children in Amarillo. She was a Christian, a devoted wife, a homemaker and loyal friend. She enjoyed raising flowers, gardening and working in her yard. Lawanna enjoyed life, her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and her friends. She always put their needs and woes before hers. Family was the most important blessing in her life. Lawanna was loved by all that knew her and will be truly missed.

Lawanna was preceded in death by her parents, J.R. and Letha henry; her husband, Dean Merrill; her son, Joe Merrill; and her sister, Geneva Goode. Lawanna is survived by her daughter, Debra Bohensky and husband Joe; her son, Eddie Merrill and wife Joanna; her daughter-in-law, Brenda Merrill and daughter Darlene Sellmyer all of Amarillo; also by her nine grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. The family would like to send a special thank you to the staff and extended family at Childers Place and Odyssey Hospice for the wonderful care and love they gave her. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. this evening at the funeral home. The family suggest memorials be sent to The American Cancer Society or to one’s favorite charity.