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Posted by Janet Laubhan Flickinger
Oct 20, 1932 - Dec 12, 2011
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http://www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com/
Merrill, Vanita Carol (Harrod) died Monday, December 12, 2011 in Norman, Oklahoma.
She was born in Martha, Oklahoma on the 20th
of October 1932 to Van and Eula Mae (High) Harrod. She grew up
in Olton, Texas and graduated as the Olton High School
valedictorian in 1949. After high school, she attended Bethany-Peniel
College (later renamed Southern Nazarene University) and
graduated summa cum laude in 1953. She married Kenneth Merrill
in 1954 and lived in Evanston, Illinois, for four years. In
1958, they moved to Norman, where Kenneth taught at the
University of Oklahoma for forty-seven years. Vanita briefly
taught elementary school and worked as an editorial assistant at
Books Abroad (later renamed World Literature Today). She loved
literature and maintained a lively correspondence with many
people over the years. She excelled at writing, sewing,
cooking, or anything else she put her hand to.
Vanita is survived by her husband, Kenneth Merrill, of Norman;
four sisters: Marjorie Biggs, of Bethany, Oklahoma; Betty
Stilley of Kansas City, Kansas; Joye Meeker, of Flower Mound,
Texas; and Jackie Fowler, of Papillion, Nebraska; one brother,
Duane Harrod, of Lubbock, Texas; and many nieces, nephews, great
nieces and nephews; plus a few great-great-nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and by her son, Gavin.
In her quiet, thoughtful way, she exemplified Jesus' benediction
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness,
for they shall be filled.”
The family will greet friends from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Thursday,
December 15, 2011 at Havenbrook Funeral Home, 3401 Havenbrook
St., Norman. Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m., Friday,
December 16, 2011 in the Chapel of the Havenbrook Funeral Home
with interment following
in Warren Cemetery.
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Another Obit for Vanita by Jo Aguirre