January 6, 1921 – February 1, 2014

Frances A. Merrell, 93, of Easley, SC and Reno, Nevada passed away Saturday, February 1, 2014, at her home.

Born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, Mrs. Merrell was a daughter of the late Raymond R. and Martha Ruth Houlehan Merrell. She graduated from Upper Darby High School and cum laude from Drexel University where she was President of the Student Body. She received a Masters degree in Education with several Post Graduate Professional Counselor and Specialist Certificates at University of Nevada-Reno. Mrs. Merrell worked as a HS Counselor for twenty-six years for the Washoe County School District in Reno, Nevada.

Mrs. Merrell was a former Secretary of Nevada School Counselors Association. She was a member of Hidden Valley Country Club and Greenville Country Club. She was a member and former president of Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship of Northern Nevada and a member of the Greenville UU Fellowship.

She was a gifted artist, dancer, conversationalist and friend, She enriched our lives.

Surviving are daughters, Ruthann T. Earl and her husband Karl of Easley, S.C., Karen T. Anderson and her husband Larry of Castle Creek, N.Y. and Lea D. Taylor, D.V.M., of Corvallis, OR.; sister, Marjorie M. Wille, of Port Ludlow, WA; grandchildren, Stephen Earl and his wife Kristy, Christopher Earl and Taylor Helfand; great-grandchildren, Mila, Addyson and Cassandra Earl.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, February 16, 2014, at the Greenville Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship, 1135 State Park Road, Greenville.

Memorials may be made to the Nature Conservancy or to the Greenville UU Fellowship, 1135 State Park Road, Greenville, SC 29609.

The family wishes to express deep appreciation to Fran’s caregivers, Pat Rice, Tanya Howard and Wendy Runion and to the staff of Journey Hospice.