Kay Wren Merritt was born February 17, 1936, to W.W. “Sam” and Luegene Merritt of Maysville, Oklahoma. She passed away September 12, 2025, in Oklahoma City. She spent her early years living in Maysville and graduated from Maysville High School.
She always loved education and knew by the time she was in the sixth grade she wanted to become a teacher. She received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma and a master’s in English from Central State University (now UCO) in Edmond, Oklahoma. She taught at several schools but spent most of her career as an English teacher for 38 years in the Beverly Hills School district in California, which included teaching at Beverly Hills High School. She also taught at Hawthorne Elementary in Midwest City, Oklahoma, and Harding High School in Oklahoma City, before moving to California.
Kay loved music and playing the piano, and she also loved to travel (to 15 countries). She served for 25 years on church councils, where she held positions like treasurer, clerk and committee chairperson, and even helped set up a church from the ground up. She especially enjoyed playing the piano and keyboard for a praise and worship team. She also enjoyed going to estate sales and visiting with her family in Oklahoma.
Kay is survived by two sisters, Phyllis White of Conroe, Texas, and Donna Wallace of Oklahoma City. She also has many nieces and nephews and other family and friends that will miss her in Oklahoma and California.
A graveside service for immediate family will be held in Maysville, Oklahoma.
Burial is under the direction of John W. Williams of Winans Funeral Home in Maysville, Oklahoma. Words of comfort may be sent to the family at winansfuneralhome. com.
