Barbara Louise Ann Merry
https://www.bryantfh.net/obituary/barbara-merry?fh_id=10931
September 17, 1941 - August 17, 2023
Barbara Louise Ann Merry was born September 17, 1941, at St. Rose Hospital in Great Bend, Kansas. She was the eldest daughter of Paul and Hermine (Hoffman) Strecker.
She was baptized at St. John Lutheran Church in Russell and confirmed her faith at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Galatia in 1956.
She started 1st grade at a small country school in Wheatland Township, Barton County Kansas, knowing only German which she quickly found was not approved by the teacher. She then attended elementary school at District #66 in Galatia.
In 1958 she attended Parks Business School in Denver, Colorado where she met and married Frank Garcia. They had a child Lynette Ann in 1961 and divorced in 1964. She then moved back to Kansas.
In 1970 she moved to Dubois, Wyoming and lived there for the next 35 years. She met Roscoe Merry and they were married on March 30, 1977 in Riverton, Wyoming. They built a home west of Dubois overlooking the Dunoir Valley.
While in Wyoming she had a variety of jobs, including log scaler, timber assistant for the U.S. Forest Service, bank teller, bookkeeper, relief mail carrier, assistant town clerk and director of Senior Center and the Dubois Chamber of Commerce.
She was a life member of the VFW Auxiliary, a member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Dubois for over 30 years and a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Galatia since moving back to Kansas in 2005 with Roscoe and Lynette. They purchased a farm west of Galatia, Kansas where she lived until Mary 31, 2023.
Barbara died on August 17, 2023, at the Good Samaritan Society in Hays, Kansas, after a cancer diagnosis in June.
Barb and Roscoe loved their lives in Dubois, embracing the activities of the west including horses, hunting, and the Rocky Mountains. She loved the Lord and was ready to leave this life and continue in the life promised by her Christian faith. Thanks be to God!
She was predeceased by her daughter, Lynnette, in September 2007 and husband Roscoe on August 31, 2012, also a stepson, Ron Merry and her parents.
Survivors include her sisters, Melba Haines of Skiatook, Oklahoma, Karen Maier and husband Alan of Otis, Kansas; stepson, Dan Merry of Monmouth, Illinois; nephews, John Dietz and wife Lisa of Skiatook, Oklahoma, James Dietz and wife Natasha of Gardner, Kansas, Brian Maier and wife Janelle of Otis, Kansas, Tim Maier and wife Stephanie of Hoisington, Kansas, and Eric Maier and wife Karen of Bison, Kansas; and her feline friend, Fancy.
Funeral service will be 3:00 p.m., Friday, August 25, 2023, at St. Paul Lutheran Church with Rev. Wayne Baldyga presiding. Family will greet friends at the church prior to service starting at 1 p.m. Burial will follow service in Fairview Cemetery, Galatia, Kansas.
Memorials may be made to Good Samaritan Society, HaysMed Hospice, or Donor’s Choice, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, P.O. Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.
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