Your golfing pals remember our many golfing rounds and miss your humor and devotaton to scheduling our groups. 

I did his hair for a few years. He was always happy and lifted my spirits. He wanted his hair to be just right. He was a character. Got to see him every two weeks. I’m honored to have know him. So sorry for your loss Joy!🙏🙏🙏

First of all, my deepest condolences go out to Joy and the family.  May God comfort and heal them in this most difficult time.
Meeting Merle (when they joined our church, Fellowship Missionary), was one of the bright spots of my church life.  Merle (and Joy as well) was an absolute light there, so full of joy.  I felt better just being around Merle, regardless of my mood at the time, and I cannot express just how much his passing has broken my heart.

This is not goodbye, Merle.  I will see you again on the other side.  Until then, Brother.
Much love to Joy and the family,
Robin Nichols

It was a very special gift knowing Merle. I had the pleasure of being one in his golf group. I have never known a kinder person in my life. 
God needed someone special!! He got one when he chose Merle!!

Joy, my prayers are with you and the family.  I have wonderful memories of Merle at Calvary Baptist.  He was an inspirational man of God.  Once while Merle was serving as Sunday School director, he was making a comparison to the fact that “some people give God our leftovers, such as our time, talent, money, etc. “.  Merle certainly did not God his leftovers.  His love of God shown in everything he did.  
My love to you.  

I will always remember you with fond memories of your singing. You could tell you were a Godly man and I know you are in heaven with my husband Jessie and my Dad. God truly blessed you with a great talent and you used it to share God's word. Prayers for Joy and your family. 

What a fine fellow Merle was! I'm very grateful to have been a part of his life for a few years at Armorel Baptist Church. I appreciated how quick he was to share his testimony and give the Lord praise for his blessings. I also appreciated his joy and humor, his musical talent, and his rich contributions to the ministries of the Church. He gave constantly. He encouraged purposefully. He worked hard.  He was a wonderful Christian example of what a husband should be. I'm thankful for the assurance that I will see him again in Glory. I can't help but think that he and Jim Nance are now cutting up together again in the heavenly choir! :)

Joy, our prayers and thoughts are with you during this joyous, yet, as well, a sad and lonely time.  
Merle loved life no doubt.  His love for you was obvious, with the twinkle in his eye when he spoke of you or looked at you.  His love for others he encountered in his daily routines was infectious.   Merle truly loved the Lord.  Merle lived by example, as Ms Carolyn Barnes has stated in her post.  Merle made our AAPT and SESPTC meetings and conferences meaningful, fun, rewarding, educational.  No doubt his example of Christ's love touched so many lives only the Lord knows.
Hold to Merle wonderful memories.
Tommy and Mary Davenport


Joy, we are so glad to have met you and Merle.  You have both added so much sunshine to the lives of others.  We are praying God will comfort you and your family during these difficult times.  Love, Brenda and Dale Martin

Joy,  my sincere condolences and prayers for the family.  Love  you!

We will miss you and your beautiful voice.  We are not going to say goodby, but we’ll see you soon Brother In Christ.

Joy, you and Merle have been such good friends and neighbors.  We feel so blessed to know and love you two. 
Merle very quickly became one of my very best friends and I miss him so much.  His quick wit, always present smile, his great attitude, sense of humor, great treats on the golf course, and his devout love for you and his Heavenly Father are just a few of his attributes that made him the wonderful person that everyone loved!
The Lord will greatly enjoy his sincerity and musical talent.
The many, many memories of Merle will remain with all of us for the rest of our lives.
Jerry and Anita Ellingson

Uncle Merle was a man of strong faith and expressed love. He always let me know that he cared for me, and was quick with a hug whenever he saw me. He had a special relationship with both my grandparents, with whom he now celebrates in the presence of the Lord. Uncle Merle was a great friend to my Dad, and he and my Aunt Joy spent time with both of my parents and made great memories. Uncle Merle was a blessing to the whole extended family. Uncle Merle will be sorely missed, but he has now inherited the promise of God, through Christ, by Faith!
Prayers for all his loved ones.

Nick Collins

Uncle Merle was a man of strong faith and expressed love. He always let me know that he cared for me and was quick with a hug, whenever he saw me. He had a special relationship with my grandparents , with whom he now celebrates in the presence of the Lord.  Uncle Merle was a great friend to my Dad and he and my Aunt Joy spend time and made memories with both my parents.  Uncle Merle was a blessing to the whole extended family. He will be sorely missed, but has now inherited the promise of God, through Christ, by faith. 
Prayers to all his loved ones!!

Nick Collins

Merle I love you.  Mr. Burnett was truly a great and Christian man. I am truly blessed to know such a wonderful person.  It was so easy to work with such a great person.  He led by example.  Rest on Merle. 😪😪

I never had the pleasure of meeting Merle but I do get to spend most days with his sweet April. She is so proud of her dad and who he is and what he represents.  She has sent me many audios and videos of her daddy singing and shared tons of pics and stories with me about him. I feel I know 
a little bit about Merle, although I never met him, just by the wonderful qualities and love I experience daily by knowing April.  To April and all his family, you are all in my thoughts and prayers.  There is peace in knowing that he is with his Savior now.❤

Love you all 
Kim Griggs 

Uncle Merle was one of my heroes growing up.  I will miss his love for Christ and how he shown that love to others.  

Praying for my family. Love yall

Joy, My heart is so heavy right now but we know he is with His Father and you know he is singing and leading the choir of angels.  He was the most positive influence in our lives as you both wrapped your loving arms around us as we transitioned to Bella Vista,  We will continue to lift you and the rest of the family up in prayers.  Sending our love!


Joy, my heart goes out to you and your family! Jerry called last night and let us know of Merle’s return To the Lord. I read some of the comments and the Merle I know is the same guy everyone knew. He was a caring, compassionate, loving, funny guy with a beautiful relationship with you and God! I will never forget when we first met, talking about Tilley Hats and that started a wonderful relationship that I cherish! My condolences and deepest sympathies to you and the family! 

Joy, have so many members of you  and Merle but I was so heartbroken to hear of this but I know he is with Lord

Prayers of peace and comfort for the family at this time!

Joy,
Merle was Phil’s best “Buddy” and was like a brother to him. I first met Merle when he visited Phil at Mercy Hospital in Springfield.  Our daughters and I were so impressed and felt Merle’s love for the first time. I will never forget him singing for the Lord at your house.  Although we will miss him terribly, we know he has entered into God’s Kingdom.  May God bring comfort to you and your family.

With Deepest Sympathy,
Phil & Bonnie Salyards


Joy, even though I never met you, our hearts are filled with sorrow.  Merle was a fine man, very friendly and always full of  life.  The few years I knew Merle, I considered him a great friend.            Chuck & Gwen Freeman

Merle was a wonderful Christian friend and mentor.  His confidence in me propelled me to glorify the Lord with my music.  What fun we had as Merle led us in musical worship!  Every time he sang, it was truly a "testimony in song".   His physical presence will be greatly missed, but his spirit will live on in those of us he inspired.

We will never forget our days at Calvary Baptist Church with Merle and Joy.  Such a talented young man he was.
Heaven has gained another Angel and we all will join him some day soon.
To Joy and all the family.....your in our thoughts and prayers.  
God Bless You all,
Dwight and Diane Wren
Blytheville, Arkansas 


As  a member of Armorel Baptist Church, I remember all the times Merle sang for the Lord and what a witness he was to others. Charles and I offer our condolences to Joy and his family at this difficult time. He’s in the Heavenly choir now singing praises to our Lord!  May God comfort you all!

"It's A Beautiful Morning" today in Heaven! I know Merle will "Come On Ring Those Bells" everyday! His smile will gleam forever in my mind and his laugh will always remain with me. 

Joy, our prayers are with you! Merle was a wonderful, Christian man and such a good friend. I know you will miss him the most, but rest assured he will greet you at Heaven's gate.

We all look forward to the day we reunite with him!

OBITUARY

Merle R Burnett

June 23, 1949 – March 9, 2021

Rollins Funeral Home

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