India Jane Merritt, daughter of William Heatherly and Harriett Jane (Hodge) Heatherly, was born Sept. 15, 1910, in Douglas County, Missouri and departed this life July 20, 2005, at the age of 94.
India was a life long resident of Douglas County. On Oct. 13, 1927, India and Acie J. Merritt were united in marriage in Ava and to this union seven children were born. India was a Christian and attended Star Chapel Church. She loved cooking, sewing, crocheting, embroidering and being with her family.
India was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Acie J. in 1982; six brothers; one sister; one daughter, Mabel Jean Merritt; a son-in-law; a grandson; and a great-granddaughter.
She is survived by six children, William “Bill” Merritt, Ava, Rosa Lee Anderson, Ava, Nancy Jane Walker, Springfield, Homer Dean Merritt, Sparta, Carolyn Sue Loftin, Ava, Acie Merritt, Jr., Ava; ten grandchildren;20 great-grandchildren; three great great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services were at 10 a.m., Saturday, July 23, in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. Tom Johnson and Rev. Larry Vinson officiating. Interment followed in the Sweden Cemetery. Family requests memorials may be made to the Sweden Cemetery Fund.
