Merle E. Tolar

Funeral services will be held 3:00 p.m. Sunday, August 21, 2011 at Liberty Baptist Church with Rev. Coley Holloway and Rev. Douglas Green officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with Byrd Funeral Home on West Main Street directing. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service time on Sunday at Liberty Baptist Church.

Merle was born in 1921 and lived her life in Pansey, AL. She worked for many years with GMAC and Southern Liquid Gas. After the death of her husband, she continued to farm and raise cattle, but her primary interest was always her devotion to her extended family. Although she never had children, Merle was a second mother and grandmother to many of her nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces and nephews, all who loved her dearly.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leslie (L.Y.) Tolar; parents, Rev. James Aiken and Sallie Lumittie Etheredge; sisters, Mary Oleta Ingram and Mae Dean Burkett; brothers, Otha Etheredge and Talmadge Etheredge; nephews, James Gareth Ingam, Ronnie Wilson Ingram, and grand-nephews, Ricky Scarbrough and Mike Howard.

She is survived by a sister-in-law, Blanche Etheredge of Leesburg, FL; nieces, Gwendolyn Hopper (Vernon) of Eufaula, AL, Shelba Scarbrough of Dothan, AL, Gerry Womack (Bobby) of Grier, SC, Diane Olssen of Dothan, AL, Jenann “Nan” Sisemore (Don) of Bradenton, FL and Tammi Green (Robert) of Trinity, FL; nephews, Manley Ingram (Sue) of Ft. Walton Beach, FL, Terry Ingram of Pansey, AL, Joe Howard (Dianne) of Pansey, AL, Rodney Burkett (Brenda) of Pansey, AL, Kenneth Wayne Etheredge of Redmond, WA, Stephen “Steve” Etheredge (Karen) of Dothan, AL and R. Kim Etheredge (Michelle) of Leesburg, FL. In addition, Merle is survived by a number of grand and great-grand nieces and nephews.

The family would like to acknowledge and express gratitude to Merle’s grand niece, Chris Johnson (Stanley) of Pansey, AL and her mother, Ann McMillan (Ed Leigh II) of Brewton, AL, who gave tirelessly of their love and time in caring for Merle in her battle with cancer.

Flowers are welcomed; however, those who would prefer are requested to make donations to Liberty Baptist Church, 477 Liberty Church Rd, Pansey, AL, 36370, Covenant Hospice, 104 Rock Bridge Rd., Dothan, AL, 36303 or the American Cancer Society, c/o Carol Sloane, chairperson, 134 Quarles Court, Ozark, AL, 36360.