MERRILL, Ella Mae (nee Ritter)(Arhart) 1909-1999

MERRILL, ARHART, RITTER, SHORT, THOMPSON

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 5/10/2010 at 15:18:06

Ella Mae Merrill, a.k.a. Ellamay Merrill

ITEM #1:

CHARLES CITY, IOWA - Ella Mae Arhart Merrill, 90, of Charles City, died Sunday, Nov. 14, 1999, at Mercy Health Center of North Iowa, Mason City, of natural causes.

Survivors include a son, Robert Arhart of Garner; a daughter, the Rev. Judith Miller of Cedar Falls; a stepson, Delaine Merrill of Mason City; a stepdaughter, LaVonne Edmundson of Deerwood, Minn.; 13 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Wayne Ritter of Charles City and Don Ritter of Mason City; and a sister, Nadine Wilson of Winthrop.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Elston Arhart and Vern Merrill; a grandson; two sisters, June Short and Ruth Ritter; and two brothers, Dale and Jesse Ritter.

Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Trinity United Methodist Church, Charles City, with burial in Westside Cemetery, Marble Rock.

Friends may call until 9 p.m. today at Fullerton Hage Funeral Home, Charles City, with family present from 4 to 8 p.m., visitation also for an hour before services Wednesday at the church.

Memorials may be directed to the family at 625 Golfview Drive, Garner, IA 50438.

Mrs. Merrill taught for six years in a one-room school house. She also assisted her husbands in farming.

[ Iowa Statewide Obituary Collection - Central - 114 ]
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#2:

The Social Security Death Index says:

ELLAMAY MERRILL
Born: 05 Mar 1909
Died: 14 Nov 1999
(Verified)
Last Res. ZIP code: 50616 (Charles City, Floyd, IA)
SSN: 481-50-0541 issued in Iowa.

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#3:

ELLA MAE ARHART MERRILL

CHARLES CITY, IOWA - Ella Mae Arhart Merrill, 90, died Sunday (Nov. 14, 1999) at Mercy Health Center-North Iowa, Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Trinity United Methodist Church, Charles City. Burial will be at Westside Cemetery, Marble Rock.

Visitation will be from noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday, with the family present from 4 to 8 p.m., at Fullerton Hage Funeral Home, 401 Blunt St., Charles City.

Globe Gazette, Nov. 15, 1999

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#4:

ELLA MAE ARHART MERRILL

CHARLES CITY - Ella Mae Arhart Merrill, 90, of the Salsbury Baptist Home and formerly of 713 Eighth Ave., Charles City, left this world to join the Lord on Sunday (Nov. 14, 1999) at the Mercy Health Center-North Iowa in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Trinity United Methodist Church, Milwaukee and Hulin Streets, Charles City, with the Rev. Dianne Christopher officiating. Burial will be in the Westside Cemetery, Marble Rock.

Visitation will be from noon until 9 p.m. today at the Fullerton Hage Funeral Home, 401 Blunt Street, Charles City, with the family receiving friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services on Wednesday at the church.

Ella Mae was born the daughter of Samuel Sours Ritter and Pearl Hazel (Thompson) Ritter in Greene, on March 5, 1909. She grew up in Greene where she was active in the Church of Christ. She taught Sunday school and participated in the choir. After graduating from Greene High School, she taught six years in a one-room schoolhouse, teaching eight grades at once. Ella Mae was married to Elston Arhart on August 2, 1930. They farmed around the Marble Rock area. To this union a son, Robert, and a daughter, Judith, were born. Ella Mae and Elston were married 25 years before Elston's death on December 2, 1955.

She married Vern Merrill on December 3, 1956. Ella Mae warmly received Vern's son, Delaine and daughter, LaVonne. Vern and Ella Mae farmed 26 years in the Marble Rock-Rockford area until Sept. 10, 1982 when they retired and moved to Charles City. Vern Merrill died on April 30, 1983.

Ella Mae volunteered her time and services to many organizations such as The Treasure Chest, NIACC, Trinity United Methodist Church, the church circles, Prayer Chain and Middies group of the church, the Hi-Neighbors Club, the Ulster Homemakers and the Charles City Senior Citizens through the years. She loved homemaking, canning, gardening, crocheting and all types of crafts.

Ella Mae loved God, her family and friends, making them the most important part of her life. Her door was always open and she always had time to listen to you as she prepared a meal for you, no matter what time of the day or night you arrived. She accepted you just as you were. Her love spread to everyone.

She is survived by her children; a son, Robert Arhart and his wife, Delores, of Garner; a daughter, The Rev. Judith Miller and her husband, the Rev. James L. Miller, of Cedar Falls, Iowa; a stepson, Delaine Merrill, of Mason City; a stepdaughter, LaVonne Edmundson and her husband, Earl, of Deerwood, Minn.; 13 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Wayne Ritter, of Charles City and Don Ritter and his wife, Frances, of Mason City; one sister, Nadine Wilson and her husband, George, of Winthrop; several nieces and nephews and many friends. She will be greatly missed by all.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, June Short and Ruth Ritter; two brothers, Dale and Jesse Ritter; her first husband, Elston Arhart; and second husband, Vern Merrill; and one grandson.

Memorials may be directed to the family at 625 Golfview Dr., Garner, Iowa 50438.

Fullerton-Hage Funeral Home, (515) 228-4211.

[Globe Gazette, Nov. 16, 1999]