Merrill Lee Green

1930 - 2024

Green, Merrill Lee

Aug 1, 1930 - Oct 29, 2024

Merrill Green was born August 1, 1930 in Woodward, Oklahoma and passed from earth to Heaven on September 29, 2024. He was the son of Reverend E.A. and Marie Green and the ninth of eleven siblings. He spent his early years in Oklahoma Nazarene parsonages with a large loving and cherished family. After graduating from Chickasha High School, Merrill attended and graduated from Oklahoma University where he was a four year member of Bud Wilkinson's 1950 National Championship football team and the 1951 Oklahoma University Baseball National Championship team. Merrill was drafted by the Washington Redskins after graduating from OU but elected to serve two years as an officer in the U.S. Army. Merrill married his high school sweetheart, Bonnie Strickler, and together they spent a lifetime serving together as career educators, community involvement and active members in the Church of the Nazarene.

Merrill coached football for nine years at the college level with stints at Wichita State University, University of Missouri, University of Arkansas and Texas Tech University. He coached for 27 years at two high schools: seven at Abilene Cooper High School and 20 years at Bryan High School. He was honored to have served as President of the Texas High School Coaches Association and was inducted into the Texas High School Coaches Hall of Honor.

Merrill loved his community and was a member of the Bryan Rotary Club and served as District Governor of Rotary International. He loved his fellow Rotarians. He sang for 25 years with the local Barbershop quartet, Sounds Ok, and cherished all the relationships with this special group of men. Merrill was honored to have served for twelve years as a Bryan ISD school board member; serving a term as President of the Board. Merrill loved to play golf and once said, "I always thought it was the game I loved, but it hit me one day that it was really the people I played with that was the real reason I enjoyed golf; it was the friendship/fellowship."

He was a lifelong member of the Church of the Nazarene where he gave his life to the Lord early as a child and grew in God's grace, wisdom and mercy throughout his life. He wanted to serve the Lord through sharing community with others. He felt so loved and wanted the community to know how they have blessed him by all the rich and God ordained relationships.

Merrill's precious wife Bonnie, passed on February 12th, 2019. He is survived by his three daughters: Sylvia Franze (Donna), Jennifer Bergland (Dick), Stephane Shellenberger (Kent) and eight grandchildren: Preston Franze (Amanda), Madison Franze, Mallory Bergland, David Bergland, Stephanie Tulga (Eric), Scott Shellenberger (deceased), Sarah Mason, Matt Shellenberger (Madison), Brett Shellenberger, and two great grandchildren, Hayes and Camden and a large host of relatives in the Green family. Merrill will be buried beside his wife in Chickasha, Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to either Bryan Church of the Nazarene or the Bryan ISD Education Foundation.

A special thank you to Home Spark Health Care Service, Ms. Ethel Collins and Ms. Ina Lindley-Webster for their unusual and blessed devotion to Merrill. Proverbs 3:5-6.

Please visit www.hillierfuneralhome.com to share deepest condolences and expressions of gratitude for Merrill and a life well lived.