Agnes Merchant
Agnes B. Merchant passed away recently at the age of 95.
Born in Michigan, she was a devout, life-long Seventh Day Adventist Christian. With her husband of almost 73 years, Robert, they worked for Adventist schools in Michigan, Arkansas, Texas, and Tennessee.
Agnes was the second of eight children, and the oldest girl. She grew particularly close to her mother while helping to raise the younger children. Times were tough during the Great Depression, especially when her builder/carpenter father couldn't find work.
She loved teaching, helping, and playing with young children, so she later taught Bible classes to the young children at church. She and Robert had four children of their own.
In one of her jobs, she worked at McKee Bakery, making Little Debbie cookies. She later became an educational loan officer at Southern Missionary College in Collegedale. She also researched genealogy records to build the family tree.
Robert and Agnes were active in the Collegedale church, school, and community for 55 years. They were leaders in the Marriage Encounter program, that promoted more effective communication between spouses.
Agnes had many good qualities including honesty, helping others, love for every relative, and accepting her children's friends into their home, meals included. Agnes always wanted everything to be perfect for her family, and taught her children the virtues of hard work and attention to detail.
She is survived by brothers, Ralph and Roy, daughters, Judy (Kris) and Rita (Gordon), sons, Jerry and Dan (Amy), grandson, Michael (Christina), granddaughters, Emily and Abby, and great-grandchildren, Meraiah and Canaan.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, brothers, Kenneth and Russell, sisters, Leota, Ardis, and Carole, and granddaughter, Valerie.
The family would like to gratefully thank the staff of Laurelbrook Nursing Home for their wonderful, compassionate care of Agnes, especially in view of all the extra work required in nursing homes during these difficult days. The family would also like to thank The Veranda at Rhea County, where Agnes and Robert lived previously, for their excellent care.
Services have not been arranged yet.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to any organization that helps people in need or to the Robert and Agnes Merchant Endowed Scholarship Fund at Southern Adventist University.
Arrangements are by the Valley View Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 7414 Old Lee Highway, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421.
Memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.chattanoogavalleyviewchapel.com.