Meridith Anne Crain

Meridith Anne Crain, Merry to family and friends, passed away peacefully December 31, 2022 at the age of 80 in Austin, Texas. She was born on August 10, 1942 to William and Alyce (Campbell) Parker in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Merry, along with her sister Kay, spent her early years in New Orleans moving to Houston at the age of nine. Her father was a Merchant Marine and her mother was a school teacher. Even as a child she knew she wanted to be a teacher like her mother, often playing school with her dolls and playmates.

Merry, as her name suggests, was blessed with a wonderful outgoing and vivacious personality that won her friends wherever she went. She possessed an optimistic outlook and indomitable spirit that meant that her optimism was always supported by her own initiative and desire to work hard to achieve her goals. As a teenager she paid her way through college working many jobs from department stores to switchboard operator and elevator attendant. Merry was a proud graduate of Sam Houston State University and passed her love for the university to her children and grandchildren.

A blind date arranged through mutual friends, Neva and Jerry Kemper, would introduce her to the love of her life, Ronald Dean Crain. They were married on August 14, 1969. Ron was a widower with three children; Ronnie, Virginia and Lynne, whom she would later adopt. On March 17, 1971, Merry and Ron welcomed their newborn son, William Joseph (Bill) to their family. A loving and devoted wife and mother, she excelled at everything she turned her hand to and particularly enjoyed gardening, interior design and singing in choir at church.

Merry taught in the public school districts of Houston and Katy for over 30 years. She taught the majority of her years at Wolfe Elementary, serving many years with the principal for whom the school was later named. Merry was a devoted teacher, teaching 2nd, 4th and 6th grade during her career. She would spend many hours both at home and after school working on lesson plans and classroom decorations. She was always looking out for the well-being of her students, often spending her own money to provide coats and sweaters to students in need. The extra love and attention she showed her students was reciprocated later in their own lives with invitations to graduations and weddings. In the 1980’s while still teaching Merry attended night school and received her Master’s of Education from Prairie View A&M.

After her retirement in 1997, Merry and Ron relocated to the hill country town of Kerrville, Texas. They kept busy in their retirement with choir at their Catholic Church, serving as Eucharistic Ministers and volunteering at the local hospital, library and flower store. In 2005, they moved to Austin to be closer to their son, Bill. While in Austin they continued their volunteer work singing at retirement homes and volunteering at St. David’s Hospital.

During their 53 years of marriage Merry and Ron shared a love of music, dancing, gardening and dogs. Show tunes were often heard playing through their homes while they spent time with their many beloved dogs. Merry loved to dance and sing and enjoyed listening to Ron and Bill play guitars and sing her favorite songs.

Even at the age of 60 she was on stage tap dancing in a local recital.

Merry is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ron, her sister Kay, her grandson Steven Jones, and her son Ronnie. She is survived by her son Bill, daughters Ginny Jones and Lynne Wiley, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

A visitation for Meridith will be held Tuesday, January 10, 2023 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home, 12800 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77077. A funeral service will occur Tuesday, January 10, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, 12800 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77077. A committal service will occur Tuesday, January 10, 2023 from 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery, 12800 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77077.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.forestparkwestheimer.com for the Crain family.