Viola G. Merritt

Funeral Services for Viola G. (Hawes) Merritt will be conducted from the Evangelical Free Church in Franklin, Nebraska, on Monday, December 3, 2007 at 2:00 p.m., with Reverend Audrey Beaty officiating. Interment will be in the Riverton Cemetery at Riverton, Nebraska.

Viola Grace (Hawes) Merritt, 82 years of age, of Riverton, Nebraska, passed away on Thursday, November 29, 2007 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege, Nebraska. Viola was born May 4, 1925 at Riverton, the daughter of Reverend Chester Alvin Hawes and Mancy Irene (Knight) Hawes. She received her education at the Liberty School at Duncan, Oklahoma. When Viola was eight years of age, she was preceded in death by her father, Chester. Later her mother was united in marriage to Cecil Pidcock, and he became a loving father to all of Mancy's children.

Following her education, she was united in marriage to Willard William Merritt on October 6, 1939 at Ninnekah, Oklahoma, and to this union eight children were born: James, Robert, Janet, Carolyn, Patricia, Katherine, Gale and Marlin. The family made their home at Agawam, Oklahoma, where Viola focused on raising their children and Willard was employed by Rock Island Railroad and engaged in farming. In May of 1973 they moved to Riverton, Nebraska. Viola later became employed by the Franklin County Hospital until her retirement. Viola was always active in her community. She served on the Election Board, volunteered her time with the Blood Mobile, taught quilting and loved to cook and can. She loved to read, enjoyed tending to her garden and was an avid sports fan. In all these activities, she always found a way to express the importance of having faith in the Lord. Viola was a longtime member of the Valley Worship Center in Riverton, where she taught Sunday school, was song leader, and served in many capacities including serving as a Deaconess for several years. She was truly a "Prayer Warrior" for her family and friends. On November 19, 2002 she was preceded in death by her husband, Willard.

She leaves to mourn her passing her four daughters: Janet Peden and her husband, Windell, of Jackson, Mississippi, Carolyn Wilkerson and her husband, Michael, of Jacksonville, Arkansas, Patricia Bowman and her husband, Donald, of Guthrie, Oklahoma and Kathy Herrington and her husband, Dale, of Holdrege; three sons: James W. Merritt and his wife, Arvilla, of Agawam, Oklahoma, Robert A. Merritt and his wife, Janet Ruth, of Chickasha, Oklahoma and Gale Merritt and his wife, Kathy, of Speedwell, Tennessee; 19 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; four sisters: Cina Buehler of Wichita, Kansas, Delores Grant and her husband, George, of Azle, Texas, Betty DeForest and her husband, Bob, of Lawton, Oklahoma and Lou Seim and her husband, Lee, of Plano, Texas; one brother, Eldon Hawes and his wife, Marion, of Denton, Texas; five sisters-in-law: Mae Davis of Fresno, California, Irene Merritt of Duncan, Oklahoma, Dona Kasperite and her husband, Herman, of Duncan, OK, Margie Pidcock of Loco, OK and Sharon Pidcock of Azle, TX; brother-in-law, Otis Merritt and his wife, Barbara, of Agawam, OK; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her son, Marlin "Nub" Merritt; parents; step-father; four sisters: Eva Jones, Ada Bernard, Dessie Warriner and Jo Lavern in infancy; four brothers: Alvin Hawes, Chester Hawes, Donald Wayne Pidcock and Howard Ray Pidcock.

Viola will lie in state at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege on Sunday, December 2, 2007 from 1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

A memorial has been established in her memory.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.