Obituary for Marilyn Jean Holly (Merrifield)
Marilyn Jean Holly, 77, of White Deer, Texas, crossed over in Heaven’s beauty on Monday, February 6, 2023, at her home with loved ones at her side.
On June 26, 1945, Horace and Louise Merrifield welcomed their third child, Marilyn, while in Littlefield, Texas. She soon became Daddy’s girl and was much loved by all her siblings. Marilyn attended school in Littlefield and graduated in 1963.
The year of 1963 was a year of change for Marilyn. She saw Wallace Holly on a motorcycle, had her brother, Jimmy, tell him to ask her out on a date, and it worked out well. They married on September 11, 1964, and their love story endured for 58 years. They moved around the Panhandle region for several years before settling down in White Deer in 1981.
During their years together, Marilyn and Wally had 3 children, Rob, Alan, and Teresa Dawn. You could always count on Marilyn to be at every school function with her kids. That dedication continued to her eldest grandchildren, Sean and Devin, with whom she had a special relationship, and she adored spending as much time as possible with Cason and Lauren. If you saw Marilyn at the store, or the post office, you can bet she had something to tell you about her kids and what they were up to. Not only was she their cheerleader, but their biggest fan. She worked tirelessly and sacrificed for all her children and grandchildren. She strived for them to be happy and to have all they wanted and needed.
White Deer ISD lost a favorite friend to students and teachers alike when she retired in 2017 after 36 years of service. She was a vital part of everyday life at school, as she worked in the administration building, the library, and was a bus driver on both route and activity busses. It was always an adventure to ride her bus and she carried students thousands of miles. There are many who will remember her words of encouragement or, maybe a scolding or two from those trips.
Many of her friends will remember that any excursion in off time, doctor appointments, lunch, or movie dates would always be an excuse for her favorite hobby of shopping. Going to town meant she would return with a least one bag of goodies. If joining her for a meal, odds were good that most of the food on her plate would be fried. To help burn off those fried dinners, she could be found walking about town with friends when the warmer weather allowed. You knew it was summer when Marilyn and friends were enjoying an evening walk.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, Horace and Louise, and daughter Teresa Dawn.
She is survived by her husband, Wallace; two sons, Rob Holly and wife Holly of Pampa, Alan Holly and wife Jennifer of Lubbock; four grandchildren, Sean Holly, Devin Holly and wife Kathy, Cason Holly, Lauren Holly and five great-grandchildren. A sister, Judy Trotter and husband Bruce; brothers, Jimmy Merrifield of Lubbock, Royce Merrifield and wife Rhessa of Littlefield.
Marilyn will be available to pay final respects from 5-8 pm on Wednesday, 9-8 on both Thursday and Friday at Winegeart Funeral Home, 303 N Frost Street, Pampa.
Celebration of Life Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, February 11, 2023, at First Baptist Church of White Deer, 411 S. Omohundro St, with Brother Alan Wilson officiating. The family has entrusted the care of their loved one to Winegeart Funeral Home.
Should memorial donations be a preference, the family has requested they be sent to First Baptist Church of White Deer, PO Box 337, White Deer, TX 79097.
On June 26, 1945, Horace and Louise Merrifield welcomed their third child, Marilyn, while in Littlefield, Texas. She soon became Daddy’s girl and was much loved by all her siblings. Marilyn attended school in Littlefield and graduated in 1963.
The year of 1963 was a year of change for Marilyn. She saw Wallace Holly on a motorcycle, had her brother, Jimmy, tell him to ask her out on a date, and it worked out well. They married on September 11, 1964, and their love story endured for 58 years. They moved around the Panhandle region for several years before settling down in White Deer in 1981.
During their years together, Marilyn and Wally had 3 children, Rob, Alan, and Teresa Dawn. You could always count on Marilyn to be at every school function with her kids. That dedication continued to her eldest grandchildren, Sean and Devin, with whom she had a special relationship, and she adored spending as much time as possible with Cason and Lauren. If you saw Marilyn at the store, or the post office, you can bet she had something to tell you about her kids and what they were up to. Not only was she their cheerleader, but their biggest fan. She worked tirelessly and sacrificed for all her children and grandchildren. She strived for them to be happy and to have all they wanted and needed.
White Deer ISD lost a favorite friend to students and teachers alike when she retired in 2017 after 36 years of service. She was a vital part of everyday life at school, as she worked in the administration building, the library, and was a bus driver on both route and activity busses. It was always an adventure to ride her bus and she carried students thousands of miles. There are many who will remember her words of encouragement or, maybe a scolding or two from those trips.
Many of her friends will remember that any excursion in off time, doctor appointments, lunch, or movie dates would always be an excuse for her favorite hobby of shopping. Going to town meant she would return with a least one bag of goodies. If joining her for a meal, odds were good that most of the food on her plate would be fried. To help burn off those fried dinners, she could be found walking about town with friends when the warmer weather allowed. You knew it was summer when Marilyn and friends were enjoying an evening walk.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, Horace and Louise, and daughter Teresa Dawn.
She is survived by her husband, Wallace; two sons, Rob Holly and wife Holly of Pampa, Alan Holly and wife Jennifer of Lubbock; four grandchildren, Sean Holly, Devin Holly and wife Kathy, Cason Holly, Lauren Holly and five great-grandchildren. A sister, Judy Trotter and husband Bruce; brothers, Jimmy Merrifield of Lubbock, Royce Merrifield and wife Rhessa of Littlefield.
Marilyn will be available to pay final respects from 5-8 pm on Wednesday, 9-8 on both Thursday and Friday at Winegeart Funeral Home, 303 N Frost Street, Pampa.
Celebration of Life Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, February 11, 2023, at First Baptist Church of White Deer, 411 S. Omohundro St, with Brother Alan Wilson officiating. The family has entrusted the care of their loved one to Winegeart Funeral Home.
Should memorial donations be a preference, the family has requested they be sent to First Baptist Church of White Deer, PO Box 337, White Deer, TX 79097.