CHARLOTTE PARMELEE MERRILL

Charlotte Parmelee Merrill, 69, left our world for a much greater journey on June 13th, 2016 in the early morning hours. She was in her beautiful home, looking out on her gardens, surrounded by her family. Charlotte was born on August 21, 1946 in Springfield, MO. She is preceded in death by her parents Eleanor Warren Parmelee, James Claiborne Parmelee & her brother James Dudley Parmelee. During her last few days, she shared her extreme excitement to be reunited with them. Charlotte is survived by her loving husband and best friend of nearly 47 years, James Ray Merrill, her brother & stem cell donor Alex Harold Parmelee, her adoring children Matthew Michael Merrill & Elizabeth Parmelee Kassab and her life's greatest joy; grandchildren Ashlyn, Alexa, Maxwell & Henry. Her future son-in-law, Michael David Moyes and soon to be 5th grandchild will continue to share in her memory. Her journey took her through Springfield, MO as a child, Memphis, TN for studies and the beginning of her marriage to Jim, then Norfolk, VA, Raytown, MO, Lawrence, KS, Bloomington, IN, Leawood, KS and most recently Overland Park, KS. Charlotte loved any opportunity to travel, sew anything, garden, cook, sing and mostly spend time with family and dear friends. Her church and fellowship at LUMC were very near to her heart. She was a long time member of 30 years, most of which you could hear her beautiful voice singing tenor to soprano in the choir. Charlotte's health journey leading to her recent bone marrow transplant was a rocky one; one that she embraced with courage and awe of the science; one that she ultimately won with the recent cure of her rare combination of blood cancers. Our family feels deeply connected and grateful to the BMT team at KU Hospital; mostly for their efforts, professionalism and genuine love of Charlotte. In lieu of flowers, please opt for donations to University of Kansas Cancer Center, Leawood United Methodist Church or After the Harvest KC. Services will be held at 10:30 am, Friday, June 17th, at Leawood United Methodist Church, 2915 West 95th Street Leawood, KS 66206. She both lived and left us with beauty, elegance and love beyond measure. This world was graced. Cremation Society of Kansas & Missouri, 8837 Roe Avenue, Prairie Village, KS 66207, 913-383-9888. www.kccremation.com