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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Merritt, Betty L.
Betty L. Merritt, 79, of Cedar Rapids, died Aug. 31, 2011, in her home surrounded by her family. Private graveside services and burial will be held at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home.
Surviving are her husband of 61 years, Dick Merritt; her sons, Rob Merritt and wife Pat of Lisbon and Rick Merritt and wife of Barb of Cedar Rapids; her beloved grandchildren, Michelle (Zeb) Zaruba of Mount Vernon, Stacy (Dave) Merritt-Collins of Florence, Ore., Ryan Merritt of Phoenix, Ariz., Derek (Shawnna) Merritt of Cedar Rapids and Amanda Merritt of Marion; and three great-grandchildren.
Betty Lou Merritt was born Dec. 18, 1931, in Fairfield, Neb., the daughter of John F. and Margaret S. (Holland) Beck. She was united in marriage to Dick R. Merritt on June 11, 1950, in Omaha, Neb. She worked in her home caring for their two sons. During Betty and Dick's time in Ames she was greatly involved in the American Legion Auxiliary and served as the Ames unit president and the Story County president. Betty enjoyed traveling and was a lifelong fan of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Her greatest enjoyment was time spent with her family, especially her beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Memorials in Betty's honor may be directed to St. Luke's Hospice.
Please leave a message, tribute or memory to Betty's family on the Web page, under Obituaries.
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