Honoring the Life of

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Life’s Journey

Rosie Lee Merritt was born January 2nd, 1928 to the late Samuel McGrew and Rosetta Lewis, in Calvert, Texas. Twelve Children were born from this union: Samuel Jr, Earnest, Lonnie B., Laurence Curtis, Lorenza, Lewis, Eula Mae, Verndell, Rosie Lee, Earlene & Ruby Jewel. She
was the tenth of twelve children and the only living daughter of five daughters. She accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour early and was baptized at Bethel Grove Baptist Church in Calvert Texas.

She attended early education at Calvert High School in Calvert Texas. She was a loving wife, homemaker, and outstanding mother of five children. While serving the role of Homemaker, she cared for numerous children in the Pleasantville Community and the elderly in the Houston
area. In 1947 Rosie Lee married her exceptional sweetheart, the late Joel Merritt Sr. They had an aloving relationship and were married 59 years until the end of his life’s Journey in 2006. From this union, God blessed them with five children, three sons and two daughters. ( Joel Jr, Barbara
Nell, Anthony Ronald, Linda Gale, and Gerald Gerard) After moving to Houston Texas, she and Joel united with New Hope Missionary Baptist Church for over 20 years. She later joined the Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church under the Pastoral Leadership of the late Reverend Hayward Edward Joseph Wiggins, where she was a faithful devoted member. She was involved in several ministries as a Deaconess, choir member, Sunday School participant, and Bible Study. She also served as an active Adult Parent with the youth ministry. Rosie continued her membership at Gethsemane until her health issues and death. She served diligently as a Deaconess and in Sunday School under the leadership of Pastor Dennis Carl Jones. In recent years, Rosie was an adventurous fisher lady. Fishing was one of the best activities of enjoyment. If time would have been allowed, Rosie would have gone fishing every day. Her passion was not only to catch the fish but to share with neighbors, widowers, homeless, handicapped, or whomever she felt could be blessed. She was well known in her favorite fishing location, Rollover Pass in Galveston Texas. She loved to travel and often traveled with The Best Yet Social Club. She loved her roles as mother, grandmother, mentor & teaching others how to fish. Most of all, she treasured her love for Jesus Christ and how this love impacted her life.

Rosie departed this life on August 30th, 2024. She was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel McGrew and Rosetta McGrew, two sons and one daughter, Joel Merritt Jr, Anthony Ronald Merritt, one daughter Barbara Nell Merritt; 5 brothers; Samuel McGrew Jr., Earnest McGrew,
Laurence Curtis McGrew, Lorenza McGrew, Lewis McGrew. Four Sisters; Eula Mae Jones, Verndell Hines, Earlene Britten, and Ruby Thornton.
To cherish the memory of a fulfilled life, She leaves to mourn two brothers, Lonnie B Mcgrew of Dallas Texas, and Londell McGrew of San Diego California. Two children; Linda Gale Hines (Earnest) of League City Texas and Gerald Gerard Merritt of Houston Texas. And a host of Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other friends and relatives.