Irene Sallie Merritt

Funeral services for Irene Sallie Merritt, a lifelong Caney, OK area resident, were held Monday, May 1, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at the Atoka Funeral Chapel with Bro.

Jerry Richard officiating. Burial was in High Hill Cemetery in Atoka with Brown’s Funeral Service of Atoka in charge of arrangements.

Ms. Merritt was born July 2, 1931 to Clarence and Lena (Emmons) Davis at Commerce, TX and passed away April 27, 2023 at Coalgate at the age of 91 years, 9 months and 25 days. She attended High Hill School and was a housewife and homemaker and a provider for DHS. Irene married Robert Edward Merritt in August, 1946 at Atoka. They celebrated 56 wonderful years of marriage before his passing in 2002. Irene was of the Pentecostal Holiness faith, a member of the VFW Auxiliary, enjoyed camping, fishing, reading, garage sales and loved visiting with family and friends.

Survivors include her children, Nancy Coates and husband Dwight, Lucille Broughton and husband Doyal all of Caney, OK, Alice Hunt and husband Jesse of Atoka, Robert Simpson and wife Sheryl of Caney, OK, and David Merritt of the home in Caney, OK; sixteen grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; eleven great-great grandchildren; sisters, Thelma Woolf of Tushka, and Edna Sheffield of Lane, OK; along with nieces, nephews, other relatives and many dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Lena (Emmons) Davis; husband, Robert Merritt; son, Jimmy Merritt; siblings, Jesse Eugene Davis, twin infant brother Ira Davis, Florence Camp, Marie White, and Pauline Davis; grandchildren, Justin Coates, Sherry Broughton, and Summer Burke.

Casketbearers were Eddie Broughton, Matthew Costner, Jordan Blakley, Shelby Milam, Jacob Thompson, and David Milam. Honorary bearers were Charles Keener, and Landon Merritt.

Condolences may be sent to the family by email to: browns@atoka.net. Please reference the name of the deceased in your correspondence.