Allene Merritt

Benjamin Funeral Service - Nowata, Oklahoma Graveside services for Allene Howell Estlin Merritt are 11:00 A.M., Friday, October 24, 2014 at Nowata Memorial Park Cemetery with Ben Killion officiating. Arrangements have been entrusted to Benjamin Funeral Service. Online condolences maybe left at www.honoringmemories.com. In lieu of flowers, family suggests contributions to the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. Allene Merritt passed away Tuesday, October 21, 2014 at the Tulsa Jewish Retirement and Health Care Center. She was born April 17, 1910 at Strang, OK to Luther Albert and Bertha Ann (Hilburn) Howell. Allene was the third of nine children. She graduated from Strang High School in 1928 and attended college at Northeastern State College in Tahlequah. She received a Life Certificate in August 1931. Allene taught school 3 years at Childers Consolidated School in Nowata County and in September 1932, came to Nowata and taught in the elementary grades for six years. Allene married William A. Estlin on February 18, 1938. He died August 3, 1974. She married H. Grady Merritt on May 20, 1981. He died on January 18, 2000. Allene was a member of the First United Methodist Church since March 24, 1940 where she taught a Sunday school class there for 25 years. She also held various other offices in the church. Allene was active in civic affairs, was a former member of the LaKee Kon Club and in 1956 was chairman of the drive to raise $50,000 for Nowata's first swimming pool that the Lion's Club was trying to build and the LaKee Kon Club took the leadership in raising the money. In March 1955 when the first polio vaccine was available, she was selected to organize the vaccine program for all the schools in Nowata County and assisted in the vaccine clinic which was held at the Nowata General Hospital. Allene was employed as executive secretary for the Selective Service System in Nowata County from 1956 - 1972. Allene is preceded in death by her parents, Luther and Bertha Ann Howell; her first husband W.A. Estlin; her first daughter-in-law, Janet Adams Estlin; her second husband Grady Merritt; her sisters, Ora Willey and Nancile Hurst; her brothers, Cecil, Truman, and Harold Howell; her step-daughter, Nina Parrish and her husband Ray Parrish; and Nina's son Roger Parrish. She is survived by her son William R. Estlin and his wife, Gloria of Tulsa; one granddaughter, Tara Estlin of California; step-sons: Grady Merritt, Jr. of California and Fred Merritt of Texas; her siblings: Barbara Wolf, Pete Howell and Bill Howell, all of Edmond; and her step-daughter's son, Ted Parrish, of Yukon, Oklahoma; as well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews. She will be missed by family and friends alike.

Visitation Details

Thursday, October 23rd, 2014 3:00pm - 9:00pm, Benjamin Funeral Home

Service Details

Friday, October 24th, 2014 11:00am, Nowata Memorial Park Cemetery

Interment Details

Nowata Memorial Park Cemetery