DOLLY LOU BARNHILL MERRYMAN

Dolly Lou Barnhill Merryman was born Aug. 21, 1930, in Cox City, Oklahoma to Lucy Irene and Louis Garrett Barnhill. She passed away, at her home, on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, at age 95. Graveside services were Wednesday, Nov. 26, in Faulkenberry Cemetery.

Dolly was married to the love of her life, James E. “Jim” Merryman, on Nov. 20, 1948, in Corpus Christi, TX. They were blessed with 60 years together.

Dolly is preceded in death by her mother, father, and her sisters and brothers.

She is survived by nieces and nephews of her and Jim’s family, and cousins.

She attended Draughon’s Business College and was employed by an Abstract and Title Co. and a bank for 20 years. She went on to obtain a real estate license and then a job with a Better Business Association.

When they moved to Limestone County, she was employed in a public office and an attorney, all the while maintaining an antique and collectible business. She often laughed that her working career was made up of closed, confidential records, then to open records, and then back to private and confidential records. In her working career, she met many different types of people, and this enabled her to be able to meet and get along with all types of personalities. She was known for her sense of humor and generous help to others.

Dolly loved to read and work crossword puzzles. Her love of the “Old West” and history led her to being a long-time volunteer at “Old Fort Parker Historic Fort.”

She was a member of Jonathan Hardin DAR; the Limestone County Historical Commission and the former Limestone Genealogy Association in Mexia in the 1980s. She felt truly blessed to remember her many friends from the morning coffee shop and breakfast meetings, many of whom have preceded her in death. In her antique and collectible business, she rarely met a stranger. She truly valued her many acquaintances and friends in her adopted Limestone County.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Limestone County Museum, Old Fort Parker, or the charity of your choice. And Dolly closes her obituary, which she wrote prior to her death, with: “May God bless each and every one of you.”