Mary Ruth Merrill

Mary Ruth Merrill
September 2, 1926 - April 9, 2010
Mary Ruth Merrill, a 26 year resident of the Rio Grande Valley, passed away on April 9, 2010 in Houston, Texas. She was the daughter of Martha and Ezra Ray Howard, of Seagoville, Texas. Mary Ruth was preceded in death by Roy Merrill, her loving husband of almost 53 years, whom she met while attending the University of Texas. From Austin they moved to Boston, where Roy attended Harvard Law School. Thereafter, they moved back to Texas where they lived in Dallas, Corpus Christi, and Houston while Roy worked for Mobil Oil Corporation, before retiring to the Rio Grande Valley.
Mary Ruth is survived by her son Richard Merrill and his wife Thea Fabio and their children, Alessandra Merrill, Maria Merrill and Livia Merrill, her daughter Marsha Merrill and her children, Seth Roy Terry and Maxwell Terry, her son Roger Merrill and his wife Mary Elizabeth Merrill and their children, Emily Merrill and Lizzie Merrill, and her son Robert Merrill.Beloved by many for her generous and giving nature, Mary Ruth will be missed not only by her family but also by all of those whose lives she touched. Grace Prince, her sister-in-law, Sarah and Randy Lewicki, Mary Elizabeth's sister and brother-in-law, and Dora Hinojosa, her long time employee and friend, will particularly miss her companionship and the sound of her voice.
As someone who loved plants, gardening, crafts and cooking, she belonged to various societies, clubs and other organizations, including the Palm Society of South Texas, Embroiderers' Guild of America, and various garden clubs, all of which will sorely miss her energy, leadership and participation. She was an exceptional gardener and needlepointer, as demonstrated by the numerous prizes and ribbons she won at competitions. From an early age, she demonstrated a passion and aptitude for cooking, winning a blue ribbon at the State Fair of Texas for one of her fruit pies. She always kept a beautiful home and garden, which she loved opening up for parties, friends and family; her motto was "mi casa, su casa".
A remembrance and celebration of Mary Ruth's life is planned for Saturday, May 29th at 11:00 a.m. at Mary Ruth's home.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in remembrance of Mary Ruth Merrill to the Alzheimer's Disease and Memory Disorders Center, Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, c/o Office of Institutional Advancement & Executive Administration, One Baylor Plaza, MS: BCM160, Houston, TX 77030.
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