Ollie (Bramlett) Merritt

Ollie Mae (Bramlett) Merritt, 91, of Ames, passed away on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at Bickford of Ames.

Visitation will be at Grandon Funeral Home, Ames, Iowa on Thursday, July 24 from 5:30 to 7:30pm, and grave-side service will be at South Saint Petri Cemetery, Gilbert, IA, on Friday, July 25 at 11am.

Ollie was born May 7, 1934, to Oliver Elzee and Anna Kate (Gregory) Bramlett in Pontotoc, Mississippi. She was raised and educated in Pontotoc and graduated from Thaxton High School.

Following high school, she met a young soldier named Richard Merritt, who was completing his basic training at nearby Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The couple was married on January 22, 1955, in Corinth, Mississippi. Following Richard's discharge from the Army, the couple briefly lived in Story City, Iowa before moving to Ames, where they spent their remaining years. Richard passed away in August 2017.

Ollie volunteered in the community while helping manage Richard's garden-plowing business.

Ollie and Richard were founding members of Grand Avenue Baptist Church and were very active until age and health challenges prevented their involvement.

Ollie loved gardening and was especially proud of her roses and her tomatoes. She and her family also enjoyed annual trips to Mississippi to spend time with her side of the family.

Ollie is survived by her sons, David (Retta) of Boone, and Gene (Susan) of Ames; grandson, Cameron; step-grandchildren, Chris, Tom, Joe, Milissa, Jayla, and Gwendolyn; brother, Steven; sisters-in-law, Leona, Ruth, and Dianne; brother-in-law, Vernie; along with numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

Ollie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Richard, and siblings Frances, James, George and John.