Merle Louise Yelvington Love

1944 - 2016

Merle Louise Yelvington Love, a native and long-term resident of Daytona Beach, Florida, died Tuesday, March 22, in Gainesville, Florida at the age of 90. In 1944, at age 18, Merle met Ensign Warren H. Love, a Naval aviator from St. Paul, Minnesota, who was on a short training tour in Daytona Beach. After he was transferred, she traveled alone from Daytona Beach to Klamath Falls, Oregon, where they were married on Warren's 21st birthday. For 23 years, Merle mastered the roles of mother and military spouse, raising three children and providing love, stability, and fond memories for her family during deployments and frequent military moves. The next 49 years was spent enjoying a more relaxed life with family and friends in Gastonia, NC (15 years), the Daytona Beach area (30 years), and Gainesville, FL (4 years). She will be missed by many. Merle was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Warren Love, her mother, Zell Acree Bass, her father, Bassett Yelvington, and three sisters, Theda M. Folsom, Pauline Amason, and Norma Jordan. She is survived by her sister, Aline Shuford of Gastonia, NC; her brother, Robert Yelvington of Cary, NC; her son, Rev. Lawrence Love, M.D. of Mineola, TX and Paris, TX; her son and his wife, Randy and Jacqui Love of Franklin, TN; her daughter and her husband, Janis and Carl Wagner, COL, USA (Ret) of Gainesville, FL; her grandson and his wife, Andy and Ann Marie Love of Dallas, TX; her granddaughter and her husband, Charlotte and Jeff Stevens of Forney, TX; her grandson and his wife, Bruce and Nikki Wagner of Gainesville, FL; her grandson, Brent Wagner of Dallas, TX; thirteen great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and a host of friends. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 31, 2016, at the Catholic Church of the Epiphany, 201 Lafayette St, Port Orange, FL 32127. Interment will follow immediately thereafter at Daytona Memorial Park South, 1425 Bellevue Ave, Daytona Beach, FL 32114. Online condolences can be posted at www.robertsfuneralhomes.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Merle L. Love to Haven Hospice, 4200 NW 90th Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32606 (800-727-1889). The doctors, nurses, social worker, and certified nursing assistant at Haven Hospice served Merle and, previously, her husband, Warren, and were of tremendous help to the family.