Obituaries

Frances Ann Johnson Merrill, 86, of Valley View, Texas, passed away peacefully on May 29, 2024, one day before her 87th birthday, in her home surrounded by family.

Rosary and visitation will be at 6 p.m., Thursday, June 6th at Dannel Funeral Home in Sherman, Texas.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, June 7th, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with Father Merlito Abiog of St. Mary’s, officiating. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. Arrangements are by Dannel Funeral Home.

Frances Ann Johnson was born in Sherman, Texas, to Frank Andrew “Bud” Johnson, Jr. and Anabel Sue “Ann” Barton Johnson on May 30, 1937. She graduated from Sherman High School, received her bachelor’s degree from Austin College in 1962, and began teaching art the following year. She met and fell in love with fellow art teacher, Robert Scott Merrill, and married him on September 11, 1970 in Dallas, Texas. Frances worked as an art teacher for over 30 years, with the majority of her career spent at R.L. Turner High School in Carrollton, Texas, her husband at her side. In addition to her day job, she had a passion for designing sets for the school productions and, later, for theaters in the DFW area. She was a lover of all things nature and dogs. Everyone knew not to mess with her trees or her pets. She was a longtime donor to such organizations as the ASPCA and the Humane Society and wanted to rescue every dog in those TV ads.

Frances is preceded in death by her parents, Bud and Ann; brother, Frank Andrew “Buddy” Johnson, III and his wife, Billie Ruth; sister, Virginia Sue “Ginger” Neal and her husband, Don; father-in-law, Robert Dillon Merrill, Jr.; mother-in-law, Vera Louise Irwin Merrill; brother-in-law, Kent Irwin Merrill; daughter-in-law, Joni Elizabeth Dunn; son-in-law Thomas Andrew Broyles; and niece, Caren Lea Johnson Welliver.

Frances is survived by her husband, Robert; children, Dena and Pat Dunn; granddaughters, Merrill and Megan Willenborg and Amy and Jenni Dunn; two great-grandchildren, Lucas and Paisley; and many nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Jacob Shortell, John Sudderth, Blake Bray, Jake Melton, Seth Jenkins, and Dane Francis.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Alzheimer’s Association.

The family of Frances also wishes to extend sincere thanks to Heart to Heart Hospice, Pecan Tree Rehabilitation Center, Renaissance Care Center, all in Gainesville, Texas, and most especially, Seth and Sue Jenkins for their constant love and support.