Evelyn Bridges Merriman

Evelyn Bridges Merriman, age 95 of Maryville, Tennessee, passed away on October 21, 2015 at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. She had been in declining health, but not spirit, in recent years. She dealt with her many health issues with grace and dignity. Born in Lebanon, Kentucky, she grew up in Fountain City, Tennessee and spent significant time with extended family in Union County. As with many of her generation, the Great Depression was very disruptive of her family life, but she nevertheless was a popular student at Central High School and graduated as Valedictorian of her class. While attending Central Baptist Church she met, and later married, Robert Lee Merriman. On December 7, 1941, Evelyn lost her beloved brother Jim who was on the USS Arizona when Pearl Harbor was attacked. In 1943, her husband was drafted into the United States Marine Corps and served in the Pacific Theater until the conclusion of hostilities. Evelyn served as a wife and mother on the Home Front exemplifying how so many of the Greatest Generation rose to the challenges of those times. In 1960, she began working at the City of Maryville Public Library, which later became the Blount County Public Library. She made many new friends in that role and took great pride in personally learning the tastes of her patrons and finding books of interest for them. She retired in 1989. During these years, she supported her husband in his career in the insurance industry and her sons in their growth and education. She took pride in her immaculate home and her exceptional cooking, and she was unfailingly generous in the support she provided to her immediate family, extended family and strangers. She was active in her Church, First Baptist, Maryville, later joining First Baptist, Knoxville and then First United Methodist Church, close to her home in Maryville. During her later years, she was unable to attend church, but she rarely missed a Sunday watching the broadcast of the services from First Baptist Church, Knoxville. The family extends its heartfelt appreciation to the members of that Church for faithfully maintaining that ministry. She was preceded in death by her husband, brothers Jim, A.T., Charles, Bill and Clifton Bridges, and her sister, Edith Bridgers. She is survived by her sons Dan Merriman, Maryville, and Bob Merriman, Walland, her daughter-in-law, Sandy Merriman, Walland, her sister Dorothy Brown, Tyron, Georgia, and numerous nieces and nephews. Her wonderful doctors of many years, especially Bryan Thompson and Taylor Weatherbee, helped make it possible for her to stay in her own home with caregiver support until her last hospitalization. Her caregivers became like family: Judith Vaughn, Teresa Ratledge, Oro Lee Russell, Deborah Reeves, Vivian Brooks, Sally Dennison, Sarah Moore, Joyce Wilson, Brenda Shomshor and Sandy Buemer, and her housekeeper, Tammy Teall. These friends and family members greatly comforted Evelyn, as did her feline companion of 14 years, Shadow. She is now resting in peace.