Gwen Merry Obituary, Death – My two youngest children, Avery Mullen and Aleaha Mullen, had a difficult day today because their mother passed away yesterday. Ms. Gwen Merry. This shouldn’t be happening to such a young person. We talked nonstop all day. Huge amounts of tears were shed, and despite having broken hearts, a good photo was still taken. However, these two are fortunate to have a strong support network in their families. Being a dad and being unable to help them while they are hurting so much is difficult. I lack the words to adequately convey how saddened I am for them and the Merry family as a whole. Gwen was a friend, mother, sister, daughter, and sister-in-law who was tragically taken too soon.
The family also finds solace in one another. Gwendolyn Volts, the sole child of Roscoe Karl “RK” and Margaret (Humes) Volts, was born on August 5, 1923, in Effingham. On January 23, 1943, she wed Merrill Dean “Bud” Merry in St. Louis, Missouri. He passed away before her on October 24, 1962. Gwendolyn graduated from Effingham High School in 1940. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1964 from Eastern Illinois University, and in 1967 she received a Master’s degree from Indiana State University. Later, she took more graduate-level courses at the University of Illinois. In Mason, Illinois, Gwendolyn started out as a part-time kindergarten and art instructor. Later, she changed to the Effingham Kindergarten Centre. 31 years later, she left her job at
Gwen enjoyed sewing, gardening (she served as President of the Green Thumb Garden Club), and golf (she was a member of the Effingham Country Club and the Vice President of the Ladies Golf Association). She enjoyed singing and belonged to various bridge clubs. She cherished taking her kids on road trips and spending time with her grandchildren. Stephen, a son of Effingham, and Gwen (Greg) Scheetz, a daughter of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Dr. Margaret Merry-Niebrugge, a daughter of Effingham, are Gwendolyn’s surviving children. She also leaves behind six great grandkids in addition to her grandchildren Julia Degler, Ben (Katie) Merry, Gary (Ashleigh) Scheetz, Jack, Jay, and Jeff Niebrugge.
Her parents, Merrill Dean “Bud” Merry, her husband, Dr. Richard Merry, James Merrill Merry, and Ronald Niebrugge all predeceased Gwendolyn. and Elizabeth Merry-Pierce, their grandchild. Effingham’s Oak Ridge Cemetery will host a private family graveside service. The Effingham, Illinois, Johnson Funeral Home is helping the family.