Johnna Wynell Merritt 1931 — 2024
Johnna Wynell Merritt 1931 — 2024
Johnna Wynell Merritt, 92, passed away peacefully in Wakita, Oklahoma on July 16, 2024, with her husband by her side.
Born August 11, 1931, to Mildred and Jimmy Johnston, Wynell was raised in Blackwell, Oklahoma where her father was the barber, and her mother was a FACS (Home Ec.) teacher. She loved music and was classically trained in piano. She attended Northern Oklahoma College where she met Bob Merritt, and they married a year later, August 30,1950. Their marriage was for life, spanning 73 years 11 months. The couple loved bike riding and enjoyed Cherokee Strip celebrations.
Wynell owned her own piano studio in Lamont. She loved watching students advance to new levels. After raising her children, she finished her degree at Northern Oklahoma College then graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma State University with a degree in Elementary Education. She taught third grade at Caldwell Elementary but was also interested in private sector schools. She taught in schools that used the Montessori methodology, in Oklahoma.
She loved working with special needs kids and worked to make their experiences in mainstreaming successful as that new concept was embraced in public schools. Her volunteer efforts were always focused on the extracurricular activities of her children, church activities, learning, and advancing the teaching profession. She enjoyed volunteering as a church choir director, piano accompanist and playing the organ for worship services. Wynell loved gardening and would sell her gladiolas to local florists. She also enjoyed sewing and baking, entering, and winning with some of her creations in county
fairs in Kansas and Oklahoma. She made fantastic, braided bread!
Wynell is survived by husband Robert “Bob” Louis Merritt and children, Hon. Michael Louis Merritt (Jayne) of Raleigh North Carolina, Deborah Merritt, of Enid Oklahoma, Kathryn Mitchell (James) of Wichita KS., and Robert John Merritt (Kristi) of Goddard KS. Bob and Wynell have five grandchildren James Merritt, Tanner Merritt (Veronica), Ashleigh BroodrŸk (Iwan), Austin Merritt (Sarah) and Tyson Merritt (Ahava) and nine great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, her sister Robin Elle, and son in law, James Mitchell.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, July 22, 2024 at Schaeffer Mortuary in Caldwell, Kansas with Chaplain Gary Miller officiating. Interment will follow at Spring Creek Cemetery, Grant County, Oklahoma.
Memorials may be established with the Hospice Circle of Love, Enid Oklahoma https://www.facebook.com/ hospicecircleoflove/ and Community Health Center at Wakita Oklahoma. https:// www.wakitachc. com To share a memory or leave a condolence, please visit: www.schaeffermortuary. info Arrangements by: Schaeffer Mortuary, 6 N. Main, Caldwell, KS 67022.