Doris Elizabeth Merrick

Doris Elizabeth Merrick, 94, passed away on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, at Ascension Via Christi - St. Francis Hospital - Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice Unit in Wichita. She was born September 17, 1929 in Denver, Colorado, the daughter of Alexander F. and Eleanor M. (Siebold) Horst.

Doris was educated in the Denver Public Schools, graduating from Denver East High School in 1947, and she continued to learn new and interesting things the rest of her life.

Her inquisitiveness and desire to learn were traits she passed down to her children.

She married Norman C. Merrick in Denver on October 9, 1949, and the young couple moved to Wichita in 1950, where Norman had secured a job with the Boeing Aircraft Company. Doris gave birth to three sons with Norman: Ronald, Jimmie, and Timothy. After Norman's death in 1967, Doris raised her sons by herself.

After Norman became disabled in 1960, Doris entered the workforce as a secretary and bookkeeper. She worked in that capacity until her retirement in 1995. The organizations that benefited from her skills were the Wichita Lutheran School Association (2+1/2 years), Wichita Child Daycare Association (3+1/2 years), Claver Headstart Center (3 years), and Bethany Lutheran Church & School (26 years.)

Doris instilled numerous ideals in her children, including a strong work ethic, the value of education, a fascination with the natural world, a driving sense of social responsibility, and most of all, a deep and enduring Christian faith. Doris invested her time, talent and energy in her family, her Church, and her community.

Raised in a musical household as the daughter and sister of symphony musicians, Doris had a lifelong love of music, particularly classical music. Her home was always filled with the best music. She was a season ticket holder of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra for many years, as well as the Wichita Grand Opera.

Doris was preceded in death by: her parents, Alexander and Eleanor Horst; her brother, Alexander Horst, Jr.,; and her husband, Norman. She is survived by: her sons, Ronald (Dian), Jimmie (Leona), and Timothy; three grandchildren: Brandon, Jacob, and Katharine; brother Raymond; nephew Gerald; and her niece, Sharon.

Graveside Committal Service will be held at 3:00 P.M. on Monday, November 6, 2023, at Resthaven Gardens of Memory, 11800 W. US-54 Highway, Wichita, Kansas, in the Garden of Cross, with Reverend Nick Cordt officiating. Memorial Service will be held 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, November 25, 2023, at Bethany Lutheran Church, 1000 W. 26th Street South, Wichita, Kansas, with Reverend Nick Cordt officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be designated to: Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, 313 S. Market Street, Wichita, Kansas 67202 and/or to Bethany Lutheran Church, 1000 W. 26th Street South, Wichita, Kansas 67217.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ResthavenMortuary-Cemetery.com for the Merrick family.