Greta Ann Young Merriman

Greta Ann Young Merriman, of the Lusk community, was called home to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 6, 2011.

She was the last child born to the late Charles Oscar (C.O.) and Allie Standifer Young in the Atpontley Mining Camp, which later became part of the Lusk community. She worked hard all of her life, starting at age four, by washing clothes on a washboard, running errands to the company store and local dairy farm and helping with boarders that the family took in. As an adult, she worked in two area shirt factories, the Lusk School cafeteria and did housekeeping work before retiring. Always putting others before herself, Greta helped care for her nieces and nephews while only a child herself. Over the years, she provided loving care and support to her parents, brothers, sisters and other family members. She was a very devoted wife and mother who was always deeply concerned about the health and safety of her husband and daughter. 

She cared very deeply about the community that she lived in her entire life and was always willing to help any neighbor. She had a wealth of knowledge about the area and always had many stories to share. 

In her limited spare time, she loved reading westerns, watching television, embroidering, flower gardening and adding to her collection of dolls, bears and anything with cardinal birds or Tweety.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ovid Merriman; parents; brothers, Charles Clem, William George, and Judson and Willard Young; sisters, Janelle (Harry) Cochran, Marie (James) Hargis and Johnny (Curtis Smith) Fabricus; and brother Ben (Myrtle Ruth Richmond) Young; nephews, H.A. Cochran, Jerry Hargis and Jimmy Smith; and nieces, Linda Cochran Jones and Robin Tate.

Survivors include her daughter Fraba Merriman Akins of Chattanooga; special niece, Peggy (Roy) Womac of Littleton, Colorado; special nephew, Charlie (Barbara) Young of Pikeville; several nieces and nephews and several caring and devoted friends.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, March 9 in the funeral home chapel with special friend, Dewayne Moon, officiating.

Burial was in Collier Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers were Chuck Cartwright, Michael Deweese, Billy Harris, Charles Smith, Willie Ray Smith and Michael Walling. Special honorary pallbearers were Charlie and Barbara Young and Peggy and Roy Womac. Honorary pallbearers were Pat Harris, Loucille Hargis, Sherry Cartwright, Gendol and Carol Rains and Elzada Rains.

An online guestbook is at www.ewtonfuneralhome.com.

Ewton Funeral Home of Dunlap was in charge of arrangements.