Merrie Christine Morrison of Cuba, MO was born on December 24, 1963 at St. Louis, MO to Lonnie Ray Morrison and Ida Dormalee (Hogan) Morrison. She passed away Friday, February 17, 2017 at her home at the age of 53 years, 1 month and 24 days.

Merrie grew up in High Ridge, MO where she attended the Northwest School District, graduating from Northwest High School in 1982. She lettered on the track team in hurdles and the long jump. During her school years Merrie played khoury league softball and found her first paying job was umpiring along side her father.  She moved to Bowling Green, KY with her parents in 1981 and attended Western Kentucky State University where she obtained both her associate (1986) and baccalaureate (1989) degrees in Nursing.  After her initial degree Merrie spent roughly 5 years nursing at Greenview Hospital in Bowling Green, KY.  It was during those years that she met dear friends Pam and Larry Dixon and moved with them to Spain where she spent another 5 years of her life as a missionary.  She lived in both Santander and Valladolid during her time abroad.  She home schooled two wonderful children, Lee and Rose Dixon whom she came to love as a brother and sister.  She then assisted to open a couple of children's homes within a drug rehabilitation program, mothering several children over the course of the next few years. She was exceptionally proud to know that some of her "kids" had become missionaries to several other areas of the world and was looking forward to meeting her spiritual children and grandchildren in Heaven. Merrie also worked within the drug rehabilitation program itself, assisting recovering addicts, teaching mothering skills and christian values.  Her "overseas" spiritual family was loved tremendously and helped mold her life for future growth in the Lord.

Merrie had been a Registered Nurse for the past 30 years with her last place of employment being Phelps County Regional Medical Center in Rolla, MO where she had been employed for about 12 years.  She spoke very fondly of her co-workers, boss, and administration saying they "treated her like gold" especially over the final couple years of her life. Her care team during most of her fight with cancer was entirely provided by PCRMC staff.

Merrie was preceded in death by her mother on May 3, 2014.  She was also preceded in death by all of her grandparents.  She will be remembered by her family and friends as a loving, giving person with a strong Christian faith which was her way of life. Her hobbies included solving math and logic problems and above all else, genealogy. She loved to travel and would take many trips with her mother to explore her genealogy roots.

Merrie is survived by her father and hero, Lonnie Ray Morrison; brothers, Lonnie (Christi) Morrison of De Soto, MO, Randy  (Linda) Morrison of Poplar Grove, IL and Marvin Alan (Linda) Morrison of DeMotte, IN; six nephews, Matthew Morrision of     De Soto, MO, Christopher (Jamie) Morrison of Grovespring, MO, Kyle (Erin) Morrison of Hannibal, MO, Kevin Morrison of Hannibal, MO, David (Andy Vanden Bush) Kovach of Milwaukee, WI and Derek Kovach of Hebron, IL: Five great-nephews and nieces, Jacob and Weston Morrison both of  Grovespring, MO, Kaleb, Kaylynn and Kaylee Kovach all of Medaryville, IN; aunts, Loretta Munton of Cuba, MO who spent time living with Merrie as a caregiver during her illness, Berniece Ross of St. Peters, MO and Claudia Dildine of St. Clair, MO; uncles, Lenor (Erma) Morrison of Albuquerque, NM, Terry (Vicki) Hogan of Steelville, MO, Michael (Jeannie) Hogan of Roland, AR, Butch (Carol) Avery of Bourbon, MO, Gene (Linda)Avery of Leasburg, MO and Jerry Bryan of Steelville, MO; several cousins, three special ones who spent a lot of time as her caregivers during her last months; Kate and Stan Bohle of Washington, MO and Nancy Riggs of St. Louis, MO. Thank you Harry for loaning Nancy whenever she was needed. Other relatives and very special friends, especially Barb and David Paulsen for all their support and care of the whole family during this difficult time.

The Family received friends from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 19, 2017 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, MO.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 20, 2017 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, MO with Rev. Jerry Beers and Rev Terry Hogan officiating. Special music of "Wish You were Here" was sung by Terry Hogan and "It is well with my Soul" was sung by Liz Hogan with accompaniment on piano by Ron Scott. Memories were shared by cousins, Henry Hoffarth and Matthew Morrison.

Committal prayer and interment were in the Sellers Cemetery, Dillard, MO.

Honored to be casket bearers were Kyle Morrison, Kevin Morrison, Jack Morrison, Derek Kovach, Bill Brakefield and Stan Bohle with Matthew Morrison as honorary.

The Family was served by the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, MO.