Judith Ann “Judy” Merit, age 76, of Coon Rapids passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 17, 2019 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll surrounded by her family.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, July 20, 2019 at the First Christian Church in Coon Rapids with John Kult officiating. Casket bearers will be Eric Lloyd, Jason Hamil, Brian Galloway, Mike Brooks, Doug Richards, Mike Rudolph, Jeff Kracht, and Dave Schroeder. Honorary casket bearers will be Pat Kading, Shanda Thomas, Kay Anthofer, Sondra Pingrey, Nancy Schon, Darlene Rudolph, Donna Coffman, Dalene Yost, Becky Toyne, and Linda Schunneman. Burial will be in the Union Township Cemetery near Coon Rapids.
Friends may call at the First Christian Church in Coon Rapids from 5 – 7 P.M. on Friday evening. Additional visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 – 10:15 A.M. on Saturday. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home of Coon Rapids and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com
Judy was born on June 30, 1943 in Vinita, Oklahoma, and she was the daughter of Charles Lloyd and Ruby Maxine (Johnson) Helms. She grew up in Afton and Miami, Oklahoma. She was married to Ernest “Ernie” Edward Merit on March 4, 1961 in Fairland, Oklahoma. Judy and Ernie moved to Coon Rapids in 1967 where they raised their two children Pam and John. Judy was most recently employed by Syngenta Seeds where she worked as a lab technician from 1991 until her retirement in 2013. She was a member of the First Christian Church of Coon Rapids and the Birthday Club. Judy enjoyed crocheting, flower gardens, football, Nascar, and bowling. She was an avid ISU and OU fan, and she loved to go to the casino with her friends to play the slots. .
Judy is survived by her daughter Pam Lloyd (Doug) of Coon Rapids; her son John Merit (Deena) of Coon Rapids: five grandchildren: Tiffany Hamil (Jason) of Grimes, Eric Lloyd (Stephanie) of Saylor Twonship, IA, Cassie Warner of Greenfield, IA, Allie Brooks (Mike) of Audubon, IA, and Jacobe Galloway (Brian) of Ankeny, IA; ten great-grandchildren: Abby, Trevor, Michelle, Trent, Blake, Braylon, Reid, Olivia, Henslie, and Marah; three brothers: Gail Helms (Nita) of Broken Arrow, OK, Max Helms (Debbie) of Diamond, MO, and David Helms (Beverly) of Grove, OK; two brothers-in-law: Glen Merit (JoAnn) of Miami, OK, and Morris Merit (Helen) of Fairland, OK; and several nieces and nephews.
Judy was preceded in death by her parents Charles Helms and Ruby Ohler; her step-fathers: Bill Brannick and James Ohler; her mother and father-in-law Ruben and Luella Merit; her sister Charlene Donovan; a brother-in-law Clarence Merit; and her husband Ernest Merit in 2008.
