Memorial Trees
D
Don Jones
March 15, 2025
A
Anonymous
March 13, 2025
A
Anonymous
March 12, 2025
T
The staff at Wheeler Mortuary of Portales, Inc.
March 12, 2025
Memorial trees planted for:
Marcelle Louise Merrick
<p>Services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, March 22, 2025, at Wheeler Mortuary in Portales for longtime Causey resident Marcel Merrick, 85, who died March 11, 2025, at Retirement Ranch in Clovis. Rick Kenyon will officiate, assisted by Betty Williamson. Burial will follow in the Causey Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday, March 21, 2025, at Wheeler Mortuary from 5-8 PM. </p><p>Pallbearers will be Nathan Moore, Clinton Burnett, Randy Merrick, Eldon Merrick, Dale Gardner, Kenneth Cox, James Newberry, Heath Williams and Marshall Merrick. </p><p>Honorary pallbearers include John Bridges, Willard Heck, Gibson Whittington, Adam Terry, Charles Terry, and the staffs of both the Retirement Ranch and Roosevelt General Hospital, who provided such good care for Marcel on many occasions. </p><p>Marcel was born October 7, 1939, in Portales to Amon Duke “Bud” Garner and Ella (Gumm) Garner. Her name was spelled Marcelle at birth but she always went by Marcel. </p><p>A hard worker her entire life, Marcel grew up in the Causey area. At home, she and her brothers helped with all the chores … even if they had other plans, milking the cows came first. Marcel shared a special bond with her dad, Bud, who was disabled for his whole life. </p><p>Marcel said her first official job off the farm was at the age of five when she was given a feather duster to help clean the shelves and merchandise at the Causey Grocery Store which was owned and operated by her aunt, Jennie Dee Terral. She was first promoted to sweeping, then worked her way up to stocking the shelves, and eventually running the store by herself. Jennie Dee was also the postmaster, so Marcel’s sweet smile was regularly seen behind the counter filling in at the Causey Post Office. </p><p>In 1957 Marcel graduated from Causey High School, and on March 4, 1958, in Portales, she married Hank Merrick. They had been married for more than 46 years when Hank died in 2004. </p><p>Hank and Marcel ranched in the Causey area, raising both cattle and horses. Marcel worked side by side with Hank on everything. They raised four children, Larry, Peggy, Ramona, and Wanda. They were active and involved with all of their children’s activities, first at the Causey School and later at Dora School following the consolidation. </p><p>Together with Hank, there wasn’t much that happened at Causey that Marcel wasn’t involved in, whether it was working with the volunteer fire department to overseeing commodities distributions, where Marcel dispensed her unfailing good cheer along with the food for her friends and neighbors. In 1984, they bought Merrick Hardware in Causey and ran it for 20 years. Marcel worked hard there, never letting the weather stop her from pumping gas and helping customers with anything they needed. They closed the store in 2004 after Hank’s death. </p><p>Marcel’s faith was an integral part of who she was. She was a member of Third and Kilgore Church of Christ at the time of her death. More importantly, she truly lived her faith leaning on her favorite verse: Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” She touched countless lives with her love and her prayers, and was always one of the first to send a card to anyone who was ill, experiencing grief, or who just needed a word of encouragement. </p><p>Marcel’s own life had its share of tragedy, losing their daughter Ramona who was only 18, Hank’s sudden and unexpected passing, and facing an illness herself in 2007 that doctors did not expect her to survive. One of them later remarked that Marcel was what all who loved her already knew: “a tough High Plains woman.” </p><p>In 2012, Marcel moved from Causey to an apartment at Golden Acres in Portales where she lived for the next 12 years, until declining health prompted the move to Retirement Ranch in November. </p><p>Marcel was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Ramona in 1981, her husband Hank in 2004, her brothers, Melvin Garner and Roger Wayne Garner, and her son-in-law, Sam Burnett. </p><p>Survivors include her children, Larry Merrick of Portales, Peggy Burnett of Morton, TX, and Wanda (Corky) Newberry of Clovis. She also survived by her grandchildren, Marshall (Tricia) Merrick, Austin Tyrel Merrick, Daniel Merrick, Paula (Nathan) Moore, Clinton (Echoe) Burnett, James (Sara) Newberry, Mary Beth (Heath) Williams and 12 great-grandchildren to whom she was “Grandma Cel.” </p><p>The family is especially grateful to the staff of Retirement Ranch for the friendship, love, and wonderful care they gave Marcel for the last four months, as well as Marcel’s nephew and niece Randy and Edie Merrick of Shallowater, TX, for their devoted love and help in being with the family. </p><p>Those wishing to honor Marcel with a memorial donation are encouraged to consider two options dear to her heart: The Causey Cemetery Fund, 305 E. 17th St., Portales, NM 88130 and Causey Emergency Medical Services, 116 Main St., Causey, NM 88113. </p><p>Arrangements are under the direction of Wheeler Mortuary of Portales. </p>October 7, 1939 - March 11, 202510/07/193903/11/2025
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