Bernita Merritt

Bernita Merritt, 92, of Lorena, passed away, Thursday, September 5, 2013 at Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 21, 2013 at OakCrest Funeral Home with Chaplain Larry Holden officiating.

Bernita was born May 5, 1921 in Amarillo to Augusta Welling Hinkamp and Henry Hinkamp. She was educated in Amarillo and graduated from St. Mary’s Academy and attended Amarillo College before entering St. Anthony’s School of Nursing from which she received a Registered Nurse Degree. Later she graduated from Harris College of Nursing and Texas Christian University and received a B.S. Degree in Nursing. Bernita continued her education in Nursing during her years of Nursing Practice. She practiced Nursing in Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas. She moved to Waco from New Mexico in 1950. Bernita was employed for 32 years as a Psychiatric Nurse at Waco Veterans Affairs Medical Center retiring in 1983. She and her husband, Tom, established Merritt Repair Service in Woodway which they owned and operated until 1991 when they retired to pursue many other interests.

Bernie and Tom married in 1972 after a whirlwind courtship. Tom died in 2007, but Bernie always said she had the happiest years of her life after she and Tom married. Friends always said they were the ideal couple to show what true love really was on a daily basis. They traveled extensively and developed many interests, especially their love for animals and considered their dogs as their children. Her interests in birds, flower gardening and computers continued even after Tom’s death. She loved to prepare Christmas gifts and party snacks for the children of their friends. She also liked to bake cookies for the many friends they had and remembered birthdays by providing cakes and the cards Tom made. Some friends called Bernie the “Cookie Lady”.

Bernie, as she was called by her husband and friends was a Peace Time Veteran of the Army Nurse Corp. She was Amarillo’s first nurse to be commissioned in the new Army Nurse Corps Section; Officer’s Reserve Corp and was a member of the first group of nurses to receive basic military orientation since the cessation of hostilities in August of 1945. Upon graduation, she was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps. She was Past President and Past Treasurer of District 10 of theTexas Nurses Association. During her tenure as President, a scholarship fund was established at MCC for use by MCC Nursing Students. Other offices held were Treasurer of Spring Valley Water Supply Corporation. She was a very active member of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association having served as 2nd Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Legislative Chairperson. She also served as Service Officer and Newsletter Editor of the local Chapter 229. For several years, Bernie volunteered at the Woodway Public Safety Department and Scott & White at Hillcrest Hospice. She supported the Waco Animal Shelter, Fuzzy Friends Rescue, Sleepy Hollow Pet Cemetery, Greyhound Rescue in Hillsboro, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Humane Society of the United States. As a young nurse, Nurse Bernie was active as a Red Cross Nurse assisting tornado victims in Oklahoma and Waco. She also volunteered to distribute the Salk Polio vaccine to children.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom; her parents; three sisters; two brothers; one niece; and four precious pets.

Bernie is survived by her very much loved extended family including , James and Teresa Kirkpatrick, Robin Ruth, Connie Busby, Sue Swaner, Chris and Carmen Rosser, Frank Reinhardt, Debbie Horton, Jeremy Kirkpatrick and Kris Charping. Very special thanks to Dr. Sarah George, Rita Sowers, Tommy Murphy, Doyle Wayne Farney and to Noi Bridger.

In lieu of floral arrangements, it is requested that memorials be sent in Bernie’s name to Fuzzy Friends Rescue, the Waco Humane Society, Scott & White at Hillcrest Hospice or to the Sleepy Hollow Pet Cemetery.