Janyth Stephanie Leavitt

Janyth Stephanie (Meurer) Leavitt, 81, fell asleep in death on Thursday, February 21, 2013 at her home in Searcy, Arkansas, after a long battle with cancer. Her last days were spent with her loving family and friends by her side. She was born on April 18, 1931 in Black Oak, Arkansas, the daughter of Robert Reed Meurer and Zola Elizabeth (Lentz) Meurer. She was the middle child of nine children, four older and four younger. She and her husband, Walter P. Leavitt celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary on January 7th of this year together with their seven children, and most of their 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She had a life-long love of reading and writing poetry, and was able to recite countless favorites by memory up until her final days. She also loved music and composed a collection of songs that were often the highlight of family gatherings, where she sang and was accompanied by her husband on the guitar. From a very young age she had a spiritual hunger and many questions. She found great satisfaction in discovering the Bible's answers and was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in 1970. One of her greatest joys was helping others find the answers to their Bible questions. She is survived by her husband, Walter Leavitt of Searcy, and seven children; three sons: Michael Leavitt, of Newbury, New Hampshire; Mark Leavitt and wife Susie, of North Little Rock; and Jerry Leavitt and wife Sherry, of Searcy; four daughters: Karen Stine and husband Louis, of Searcy; Suzanne Lender, and husband Ken, of Tampa, Florida; Laurie Figueroa and husband Richard, of Livermore, California; Judy Holloway and husband Larry, of Searcy. She also leaves behind 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. In addition, she will be greatly missed by a large extended family of those who viewed her as their mother or grandmother in the Searcy Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses where she attended for the past 40 years. She is also survived by six siblings: Pat Moss, of Searcy; Mack Meurer, of Pine Bluff; Myra Martin, of Rolling Fork, Mississippi; Dee Dahnke of Paragould; Robert (Bobby) Meurer, of Sterling Heights, Michigan; and Linda Jones, of Searcy. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Elbert and Jerald, and two beloved nephews and one niece. Funeral arrangements are by Roller-Daniel Funeral Home of Searcy. Visitation will be Saturday, February 23rd from 6 to 8 p.m. A memorial service will be held Sunday, February 24th at 4 p.m. at the Searcy Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 2723 Eastline Road, Searcy officiated by Joe McAfee. The Leavitt family wishes to express their gratitude to the nurses and aides of Arkansas Hospice for their tender care of our dear one. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, February 23, 2013 at Roller-Daniel Funeral Home in Searcy. A Memorial Service will be at 4 p.m. Sunday, February 24, 2013 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Searcy, Arkansas. For online guestbook www.rollerfuneralhomescom.