Obituary for Maryann Leeper Merryman
The remarkable life of Maryann Leeper Merryman (known to her close comrades as “Butch”) came to a quiet close at Epworth Manor at 6:56 PM on Sunday, 19 June 2016. Maryann was born at 1010 Cameron Avenue in Tyrone on 28 December 1925, the younger daughter of Samuel and Florene (Stewart) Leeper, natives of Petersburg and Broad Top City. Besides her parents and her husband Clair, Maryann was preceded in death by her beloved and only elder sister, Jean Leeper Lykens on 13 November 2005 and her brother-in-law Blair “Brownie” Lykens on 17 March 1998.
Maryann attended Washington Elementary School, where she participated in the school rhythm band. At Tyrone Area High School, Maryann majored in the Commercial curriculum, participated in the School Choir and Tri-Hi-Y, and sang alto with the School Trio, in the joyful company of Carol Eder Shope, Marilyn Morrison Hecksher, and accompanist Eileen Knarr Ellenberger. Maryann graduated from Tyrone High in June 1943. Maryann’s Presbyterian Church Pastor, the Reverend Dr. James Renwick Jackson told the terio that their singing greatly uplifted him all over the community, especially when they sang, “Bless This House” and “Now The Day Is Over.” Dr. Jackson always christened Mrs. Merryman --- “Maryanna.”
Following high school graduation, Maryann enrolled in Altoona’s School of Commerce (then Zeth Business School) to become an Executive Secretary. Following graduation from Zeth School of Business, she served as Secretary of First Presbyterian Church of Tyrone, during the years 1944 and 1945. In 1945 Maryann secured employment as an Executive Secretary at the Westvaco Paper Mill in Tyrone. She worked there from 1945 to 1951. It was at Westvaco that she met the man who eventually would become her husband ---Clair Francis Merryman of Fowler Hollow, near Port Matilda, PA.
Clair and Maryann married on 27 May 1949, in the Parsonage of Christ United Methodist Church in a Friday evening ceremony, conducted by the Reverend Budd Smith. They enjoyed 54 years of marriage, until Clair passed away on 14 June 2003. Maryann is survived by three childr4en --- Richard, with whom she resided at 925 South Lincoln Avenue, Nancy Bolinda (Walt Frank), and Lynne Merryman (Teresa McElhany) --- all of Tyrone.
In addition to her three children, Maryann also is survived by four grandchildren --- Tracy Bolinda Adams (Kevin) of Endicott, New York, Shelly Bolinda Wilson (Justin), Michael John Merryman, and Alicia Merryman Wrye (Joshua) --- all of Tyrone. She also leaves behind six beloved great grandchildren ---Jocelyn Adams, Juliet Adams, Joanna Adams, and Taylor Wrye, and twin great grandsons, Landon Wrye and Levi Wrye. On 28 December 2015, Maryann had the great good fortune to celebrate her 90th birthday with all of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in her presence. She counted that a rare and wonderful blessing.
The following nephews and nieces also survive Maryann --- Samuel Kevin Lykens, Linda Larue Lykens of Tyrone, Leroy Dean Vonada of Zion, Eileen Vonada Johns of Kokomo, Indiana, Eugene Toner Miller of Zion, Judith Cowher O’Donnell of Macungie, Susan Cowher Pearson of Allentown, and Janice Whittle of Warminster. She was preceded in death by a nephew, Lee Allen Miller of Zion. Maryann also is survived by a beloved brother-in-law, Dean Richard Vonada of Zion, PA and a beloved friend, Lois McIntire of Tyrone. She also was preceded in death by close friends Phyllis Hicks Weyer, Verva Harter Miles, Alice Fleck Snyder, and Isabella Fleck Swisher.
From 1967 to 1987 Maryann worked as Secretary/Teller at Reliance Bank in Tyrone, where she especially appreciated serving all the wonderful people of Tyrone. In her retirement years, Maryann enjoyed caring for her grandchildren, chauffeuring them to Karate, as well as sending greeting cards to mark special occasions in the lives of many folks she held dear. In addition, she loved watching old movies, especially Marx Brother’s comedies, listening to The Mormon Tabernacle Choir television performances, and dining out at her favorite restaurants. Always, Maryann made it abundantly clear that she “preferred cleaning and washing to cooking and baking --- any day!”
Maryann joined First Presbyterian Church of Tyrone in 1934, with her sister Jean Leeper Lykens. She has been a member of First Presbyterian Church for 82 years. During her lifetime as a church member, Maryann worked as a Sunday School Teacher and a Pianist for the Beginner’s Department, sang also in the Westminster Choir, and served as Treasurer for the Meckes Sunday School Class from 1949 to 2009.
During her Senior Year at Tyrone Area High School in 1943, Maryann was a student in English Teacher Hazel Latshaw’s home room, where each morning at the height of World War II she led class devotions and patriotic singing. 73 years ago, when Maryann graduated from Tyrone High, her English and Homeroom Teacher, Miss Hazel Latshaw, sent her this letter of commendation, dated 31 May 1943 ---“Dear Maryann --- In this manner I wish to extend to you my sincere congratulations, and my best wishes for your future. Your considerate, helpful attitude made you a delightful member of our Homeroom this year. I most truly have enjoyed you. I know as you go out into the world, you will be influencing many others by your lovely spirit. My hope for you is that wherever you are, or whatever you do, you will be a bright and shining light for the Lord. May this little stanza remind you of the true meaning of life --- Only one life will soon be past/ Only what’s done for Christ will last. Most sincerely --- Hazel M. Latshaw, Teacher of English at Tyrone High School.
Certainly the longest lives pass all too soon, as did the life of Maryann Leeper Merryman. Still her family gives thanks, that through all of her life, the hopes and dreams of her parents Samuel and Florence Leeper, her sister, Jean Leeper Lykens, her husband, Clair Francis Merryman, the Senior English Teacher, Miss Hazel Latshaw came to fulfillment in Maryann.
At Maryann’s direction, Memorial Services will be private and will be conducted by the Reverend Charles Fitzgerald, former Pastor of Tyrone’s Wesley United Methodist Church, and Father Joseph Kovacik, Priest and Pastor of Saint Matthews Roman Catholic Church. She will be buried next to her husband, Clair, in the Mount Pleasant Church Cemetery, along Hoover Road, just off Fowler Hollow, near Port Matilda, PA. Arrangements are under the auspices of her lifetime friend and school class mate at the Richard H. Searer Funeral Home, located on 115 West Tenth Street in Tyrone. In lieu of food or flowers, Maryann’s family respectfully requests that contributions in her honor be made to The Central Pennsylvania Humane Society or to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Maryann attended Washington Elementary School, where she participated in the school rhythm band. At Tyrone Area High School, Maryann majored in the Commercial curriculum, participated in the School Choir and Tri-Hi-Y, and sang alto with the School Trio, in the joyful company of Carol Eder Shope, Marilyn Morrison Hecksher, and accompanist Eileen Knarr Ellenberger. Maryann graduated from Tyrone High in June 1943. Maryann’s Presbyterian Church Pastor, the Reverend Dr. James Renwick Jackson told the terio that their singing greatly uplifted him all over the community, especially when they sang, “Bless This House” and “Now The Day Is Over.” Dr. Jackson always christened Mrs. Merryman --- “Maryanna.”
Following high school graduation, Maryann enrolled in Altoona’s School of Commerce (then Zeth Business School) to become an Executive Secretary. Following graduation from Zeth School of Business, she served as Secretary of First Presbyterian Church of Tyrone, during the years 1944 and 1945. In 1945 Maryann secured employment as an Executive Secretary at the Westvaco Paper Mill in Tyrone. She worked there from 1945 to 1951. It was at Westvaco that she met the man who eventually would become her husband ---Clair Francis Merryman of Fowler Hollow, near Port Matilda, PA.
Clair and Maryann married on 27 May 1949, in the Parsonage of Christ United Methodist Church in a Friday evening ceremony, conducted by the Reverend Budd Smith. They enjoyed 54 years of marriage, until Clair passed away on 14 June 2003. Maryann is survived by three childr4en --- Richard, with whom she resided at 925 South Lincoln Avenue, Nancy Bolinda (Walt Frank), and Lynne Merryman (Teresa McElhany) --- all of Tyrone.
In addition to her three children, Maryann also is survived by four grandchildren --- Tracy Bolinda Adams (Kevin) of Endicott, New York, Shelly Bolinda Wilson (Justin), Michael John Merryman, and Alicia Merryman Wrye (Joshua) --- all of Tyrone. She also leaves behind six beloved great grandchildren ---Jocelyn Adams, Juliet Adams, Joanna Adams, and Taylor Wrye, and twin great grandsons, Landon Wrye and Levi Wrye. On 28 December 2015, Maryann had the great good fortune to celebrate her 90th birthday with all of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in her presence. She counted that a rare and wonderful blessing.
The following nephews and nieces also survive Maryann --- Samuel Kevin Lykens, Linda Larue Lykens of Tyrone, Leroy Dean Vonada of Zion, Eileen Vonada Johns of Kokomo, Indiana, Eugene Toner Miller of Zion, Judith Cowher O’Donnell of Macungie, Susan Cowher Pearson of Allentown, and Janice Whittle of Warminster. She was preceded in death by a nephew, Lee Allen Miller of Zion. Maryann also is survived by a beloved brother-in-law, Dean Richard Vonada of Zion, PA and a beloved friend, Lois McIntire of Tyrone. She also was preceded in death by close friends Phyllis Hicks Weyer, Verva Harter Miles, Alice Fleck Snyder, and Isabella Fleck Swisher.
From 1967 to 1987 Maryann worked as Secretary/Teller at Reliance Bank in Tyrone, where she especially appreciated serving all the wonderful people of Tyrone. In her retirement years, Maryann enjoyed caring for her grandchildren, chauffeuring them to Karate, as well as sending greeting cards to mark special occasions in the lives of many folks she held dear. In addition, she loved watching old movies, especially Marx Brother’s comedies, listening to The Mormon Tabernacle Choir television performances, and dining out at her favorite restaurants. Always, Maryann made it abundantly clear that she “preferred cleaning and washing to cooking and baking --- any day!”
Maryann joined First Presbyterian Church of Tyrone in 1934, with her sister Jean Leeper Lykens. She has been a member of First Presbyterian Church for 82 years. During her lifetime as a church member, Maryann worked as a Sunday School Teacher and a Pianist for the Beginner’s Department, sang also in the Westminster Choir, and served as Treasurer for the Meckes Sunday School Class from 1949 to 2009.
During her Senior Year at Tyrone Area High School in 1943, Maryann was a student in English Teacher Hazel Latshaw’s home room, where each morning at the height of World War II she led class devotions and patriotic singing. 73 years ago, when Maryann graduated from Tyrone High, her English and Homeroom Teacher, Miss Hazel Latshaw, sent her this letter of commendation, dated 31 May 1943 ---“Dear Maryann --- In this manner I wish to extend to you my sincere congratulations, and my best wishes for your future. Your considerate, helpful attitude made you a delightful member of our Homeroom this year. I most truly have enjoyed you. I know as you go out into the world, you will be influencing many others by your lovely spirit. My hope for you is that wherever you are, or whatever you do, you will be a bright and shining light for the Lord. May this little stanza remind you of the true meaning of life --- Only one life will soon be past/ Only what’s done for Christ will last. Most sincerely --- Hazel M. Latshaw, Teacher of English at Tyrone High School.
Certainly the longest lives pass all too soon, as did the life of Maryann Leeper Merryman. Still her family gives thanks, that through all of her life, the hopes and dreams of her parents Samuel and Florence Leeper, her sister, Jean Leeper Lykens, her husband, Clair Francis Merryman, the Senior English Teacher, Miss Hazel Latshaw came to fulfillment in Maryann.
At Maryann’s direction, Memorial Services will be private and will be conducted by the Reverend Charles Fitzgerald, former Pastor of Tyrone’s Wesley United Methodist Church, and Father Joseph Kovacik, Priest and Pastor of Saint Matthews Roman Catholic Church. She will be buried next to her husband, Clair, in the Mount Pleasant Church Cemetery, along Hoover Road, just off Fowler Hollow, near Port Matilda, PA. Arrangements are under the auspices of her lifetime friend and school class mate at the Richard H. Searer Funeral Home, located on 115 West Tenth Street in Tyrone. In lieu of food or flowers, Maryann’s family respectfully requests that contributions in her honor be made to The Central Pennsylvania Humane Society or to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.