Carolyn Ann Merritt, age 80, passed away on July 4, 2018 at home with her family at her side after a long journey with Alzheimer's disease. She is preceded in death by her daughter Barbara Gale Merritt, her parents Joseph and Jeannette Bond and her sister Patricia Pennington Beechner.
Carolyn is survived by her loving husband Hollie (Buddy) Merritt, her daughter Janet (Kenny) Saunders and her son Robert (Kathryn) Merritt. Grandchildren Kelly (Lance) Powers, Kory (Travis) Richert, Tyler Merritt, Taylor Merritt and great grandchildren Myles and Breanna Powers and Presley Richert. She was a very loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Her loving smile and disposition will be missed by all that loved her.
Carolyn was born in Pensacola on February 4, 1938. She was a lifelong resident of Pensacola. She married the love of her life Buddy Merritt on November 26, 1955. She graduated from Pensacola High School in 1955. She started her career with the Escambia County Property Appraiser's office in 1955, then went to work for the Department of Motor Vehicles and retired as an Administrator from the Escambia County Tax Collector's office in May of 1991. She loved her career and the good friends she made while working. She enjoyed her retirement by taking vacations and spending time with her family and friends.
The family wants to express their gratitude to Covenant Hospice for their in home services. We express our sincere appreciation to her good friends Betty Evans and Freddie Thompson that visited her frequently during the final days and all of her friends and family that helped and visited our mom during her long journey. We also want to express our sincere thanks to Tracy McGaster for her dedication to our mother during her final months of life.
Visitation will be on Tuesday, July 10th 2018 from 5pm to 7pm at Oak Lawn Funeral Home. The Funeral Service will be on Wednesday, July 11th 2018 at 10am at St. Thomas More Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers the family wishes to have donations made to the Alzheimer's Association or the Alzheimer's Foundation of America.