Elsie Elizabeth Merrill was born on April 2, 1945 in Haley, Idaho and passed away October 6, 2026 at the age of 81 years.
She enjoyed the outdoors and fishing at Lake Scioto in St. James. She liked camping and many weekends were spent at Blue Springs in Bourbon, Missouri.
She also enjoyed the Rolla 1221 Rally, the four-day motorcycle rally near Buckhorn, Missouri, where she loved watching the motorcycles run through the woods and even once received an offer for a ride from one of the participants.
She was preceded in death by her father, Clifford Lee Merrill; mother, June Beamus Merrill; and brothers and sisters.
She is survived by her son, Joe Thomas Whitley Jr. of Texas; daughter and caretaker for many years, Tammy Elizabeth Roark and husband Charlie of St James, Missouri; grandchildren, Makala Skouby, Oliver Durham and Shelby Lynn Roark; great grandchildren, Roman Picker and Scarlett Picker; extended family, Shelly Clark; other relatives and friends.
Family celebration will be held at one of her favorite parks.
Arrangements under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home of St. James, Missouri.
