Frances Ann Merrill
Sunday, May 30, 1937 - Wednesday, May 29, 2024
Frances
Ann Johnson Merrill, 86, of Valley View, Texas, passed away peacefully
on May 29, 2024, one day before her 87th birthday, in her home
surrounded by family.
Rosary and visitation will be at 6 p.m., Thursday, June 6th at Dannel
Funeral Home in Sherman, Texas.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, June 7th, at St.
Mary's Catholic Church with Father Merlito Abiog of St. Mary's,
officiating. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery.
Arrangements are by Dannel Funeral Home.
Frances Ann Johnson was born in Sherman, Texas, to Frank Andrew "Bud"
Johnson, Jr. and Anabel Sue "Ann" Barton Johnson on May 30, 1937. She
graduated from Sherman High School, received her bachelor's degree from
Austin College in 1962, and began teaching art the following year. She
met and fell in love with fellow art teacher, Robert Scott Merrill, and
married him on September 11, 1970 in Dallas, Texas. Frances worked as an
art teacher for over 30 years, with the majority of her career spent at R.L. Turner High School in Carrollton, Texas, her husband at her side.
In addition to her day job, she had a passion for designing sets for the
school productions and, later, for theaters in the DFW area. She was a
lover of all things nature and dogs. Everyone knew not to mess with her
trees or her pets. She was a longtime donor to such organizations as the
ASPCA and the Humane Society and wanted to rescue every dog in those TV
ads.
Frances is preceded in death by her parents, Bud and Ann; brother, Frank
Andrew "Buddy" Johnson, III and his wife, Billie Ruth; sister, Virginia
Sue "Ginger" Neal and her husband, Don; father-in-law, Robert Dillon
Merrill, Jr.; mother-in-law, Vera Louise Irwin Merrill; brother-in-law,
Kent Irwin Merrill; daughter-in-law, Joni Elizabeth Dunn; son-in-law
Thomas Andrew Broyles; and niece, Caren Lea Johnson Welliver.
Frances is survived by her husband, Robert; children, Dena and Pat Dunn;
granddaughters, Merrill and Megan Willenborg and Amy and Jenni Dunn; two
great-grandchildren, Lucas and Paisley; and many nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Jacob Shortell, John Sudderth, Blake Bray, Jake
Melton, Seth Jenkins, and Dane Francis.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The
Alzheimer's Association.
The family of Frances also wishes to extend sincere thanks to Heart to
Heart Hospice, Pecan Tree Rehabilitation Center, Renaissance Care
Center, all in Gainesville, Texas, and most especially, Seth and Sue
Jenkins for their constant love and support. |