Linda Lynn Merrick

Linda Lynn Merrick 62, of Huntsville, Ohio formerly of Jacksonville, Arkansas left from St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima, Ohio to be with her Lord Jesus Christ on Monday morning, August 27, 2012. She was the daughter of Arthur R. Merrick, who preceded her to Heaven in 2012 and Margaret A. Merrick who survives her in Jacksonville, Arkansas. Linda grew up in Jacksonville and graduated from Jacksonville High School. After graduation she studied and trained to receive her license as an L.P.N. at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock, where she worked full time while studying for and obtaining her R.N. degree from the University of Central Arkansas at Conway. While at UCA Linda was chosen to be included on the list of "Outstanding Young Americans" in the U.S. at the time. Upon graduation she was chosen to receive the Mildred Armor Award as the outstanding student in her nursing class. Linda worked as an RN in the CCU at Baptist Medical Center for many years before joining the United States Air Force Nurse Corp, where she continued working first in critical care and then as a Cardiac Cath Lab Nurse at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Fairborn, Ohio. She was instrumental in setting up a Cardiac Rehab Program for Wright Patterson in conjunction with Kettering Hospital in Kettering, Ohio. Linda's first love without a doubt was her Lord Jesus Christ. Following a close second was her love for people - her patients, her family, her friends, and strangers whose lives she continued to impact for the Lord even during the last days and hours of her life. Linda is survived by a sister Margaret Sharon (Dan) Rausch of Owens Crossroads, Alabama and a brother Bruce (Bobbie) Merrick of North Little Rock. Beloved nieces and nephews include; Dannette (Wade) Cox of Haw River, North Carolina, Micah (Mark) Whiteman of Owensboro, Kentucky; Brittany (Ryan) Epps of Jonesboro, TN; Andrew Merrick of Maumelle, AR, Wendy (Wayne) Pritchett of Irrigon, OR, many dear friends including longtime friend, Barbara Rausch of Huntsville, Ohio and her dearly beloved special cat, Carmel. Linda and her family would like to express their gratitude for the outstanding and compassionate care she received from all the nurses she came in contact with during her various stays at St. Rita's Medical Center and at Heartland of Indian Lake. Funeral services will be 2 p.m., Saturday, September 1, 2012 at Moore's Jacksonville Funeral Home with Bro. Larry Ballard officiating. Entombment will follow in Chapel Pines Mausoleum. Arrangements by Moore's Jacksonville Funeral Home (501) 982-2136. Sign online guestbook at www.mooresjacksonvillefuneralhome.com.