Caroline Merritt

September 26, 1939 - October 28, 2015
Born September 26, 1939, in Camden Arkansas Caroline Jane Taylor grew up in Sparkman, Arkansas and graduated as a valedictorian of her class from Sparkman High School. She developed a powerful appreciation of nature in the hills and pastures of the Taylor farms, she played the piano and organ and sang in the choir at Sparkman United Methodist Church, and developed her seemingly natural leadership skills in the Methodist church and school, which she carried out through her total life to her commitment to helping others through her school and counseling careers in her world community. On October 28, 2015 she passed away peacefully at home in San Antonio Texas with her family at her side.
While attending Texas Woman's University, she met Gordon Merritt, her husband of 57 years, her Aggie and the love of her life whom she married at the end of his junior year at Texas A&M and the end of her sophomore year. They shared a lifetime of love for each other, a love of nature, travel, family and friendship, and the United Methodist Church. Their marriage thrived on love, respect, trust, commitment, and never taking each other for granted.
At the end of a 6 month assignment in the U.S. Army at Fort Knox, KY, they moved to the Robstown/Calallen area of Corpus Christi where they raised their sons, Mark Taylor Merritt and Gordon Dean Merritt.
After the exciting challenge of returning to school to complete a degree in education, she graduated from then Texas A&I with honors. Caroline graduated with honors from then Corpus Christi State University with a degree Counseling. She taught English and Journalism at Calallen High School. She was a school counselor at Calallen High School and Magee Elementary School. She was active at Grace United Methodist, a number of volunteer movements in the Corpus Christi area, such as the Corpus Christi Women's Shelter, Metro Ministries where she was a founding member, and the Samaritan Center.
Caroline received her LPC in 1983 and her LMFT in 1992; she became a Clinical Member of the American Association for Marriage Therapy 1n 1992 as well. She opened and conducted a private practice in Marriage and Family Therapy in 1995 at the Life Skill Center in Corpus Christi until 2007. Whether teaching American Literature and Writing, engaging with high school or elementary school students, working with couples or children in Play Therapy, she never lost her energy and passion for her work or her life long commitment to being of service to others. Were it not for her diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer in May of 2014 her intent was to work at least part time until she was 80 years old and always with Gordon's total support.
Upon Gordon's retirement in 2007, the Merritt's moved to the Hill Country Retreat in San Antonio, full filling a lifelong dream for both of them of living in San Antonio. The Retreat offered a lifestyle of fun, new friendships, activities, and volunteering of which they both took full advantage and delighted in their circle of warm and loving friends, chairing the Initial Nominations Committee, joining clubs of interest such as golf cart club, dance club, wine club, starting two book discussion groups, one of which is still vital and active and now is named the Caroline Merritt memorial Book Club. All of this and again opening a part time practice in Marriage and Family Therapy in San Antonio still left time for family, reading, summers in Colorado and hiking in Big Bend Park.
Caroline was preceded in death by her parents, Philip Horace Taylor Jr. and Corinne Brashears Taylor. She is survived by her precious Gordon, her two sons Mark Taylor Merritt (Bella) and Gordon Dean Merritt (Jackie) and extended Taylor and Brashears cousins in east Texas and Arkansas. Caroline will be greatly missed by her family, friends and all who knew her. Her lifetime of service to others and her great courage shown after her cancer diagnosis is an inspiration to all who were close and dear to her. A memorial service celebrating the life of Caroline will be held at University United Methodist Church, 5084 De Zavala Road, San Antonio, Texas at 2:00 PM on Monday November 2, 2015. In lieu of flowers please send memorials to Grace United Methodist Church 14521 Northwest Blvd. Corpus Christi, Texas 78410 or Christ Fellowship United Methodist Church, 9721 Braun Road, San Antonio, Texas 78254 or a charity of your choice.
Private graveside services will be at Memory Park Cemetery, 4607 FM 1889 Robstown, Texas at a later date. Caroline will be laid to
rest in the Merritt family plot.
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