Merle Conner

Merle Franks Conner, age 95, of Bee House passed away October 5, 2018 at the Welcome Program of the Coryell Memorial Healthcare System in Gatesville.  Graveside services will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, October 11, 2018 at the Bee House Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be held at Scott’s Funeral Home from 6:00 till 8:00 PM on Wednesday, October 10, 2018. Merle was born on Nov. 12, 1922, in Pearl, Texas, to the late Charley E. and Mary O. Mariott Franks.  She attended school at Pearl and graduated in 1940.  Merle married John H. Conner on November 21, 1940. Merle and John lived their entire married lives on their ranch near Bee House, except for a brief interruption in 1945-46 for John’s military service. Shortly after her husband passed away in 2000 Merle moved to the Oaks / Welcome facilities in Gatesville.  Merle’s lifelong profession was her family. She took her roles as Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Great-grandmother seriously.  Merle was a very good cook, an art learned primarily from her Mother-in-law Anna Jones Conner.  Her lifelong hobby was reading.  Her favorite books were mysteries, but she read a wide variety of literature.  She was a life-long Methodist having membership in the Methodist Churches at Pearl, Bee House and Evant. Merle was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and brother; Charles Franks and sister; Jane Haines. She is survived by her five children and their spouses; Richard and Neta Conner, Ross and Margaret Conner, Mary and Royce Chambers, John and Gail Conner and Bill and Jennifer Conner; sixteen grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. Merle’s Pallbearers will be her grandsons: Michael Conner, Jeff Chambers, Harper Conner, Thomas Conner, Austin Conner, Ben Conner and David Conner. The family suggests that memorials be made in Merle’s honor to the Coryell Memorial Health System, 1507 West Main, Gatesville, TX 76528; the Bee House Cemetery Association, 2143 CR 155, Gatesville, TX 76528; the United Methodist Church of Evant, PO Box 146, Evant, TX 76525; Kindred Hospice, 2626 South 37th Street, Temple, TX 76504 or to a charity of your choice.