Mary Lidella Cain Merritt

Mary Lidella Cain Merritt, daughter of James William and Helen Higginbotham Cain, was born on Nov. 29, 1923, in St. Louis, Mo., and on Friday, April 3, 2015, at the Brookdale Assisted Living in Knoxville, Tenn., at the age 91.

Mary Dell lived in Kennett, where she was a teacher for many years. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Kennett and was active in Girl Scouting for many years. She was also a member of Chalk Bluff Chapter of DAR.

Mary was united in marriage to Elman McCutchen Merritt in Campbell, Mo.

He preceded her in death on Dec. 2, 1980.

Survivors include four daughters, Dorothy Helen Leist and husband, James of Charlotte, N.C., Nancy Bess Schanda and husband, Hammons of Forsyth, Mo., Mary Martha Fine of Knoxville, Tenn., and Ann McCutchen Polsgrove and husband, Kent of Dexter, Mo.; seven grandchildren, Nancy Leist Atwell, Mary Helen Schanda Snider, Ann Mary Leist, Amanda Schanda Harris, Elizabeth Schanda Newberry, Sarah Polsgrove Jarrell and Martha Polsgrove Kolker; 10 great-grandchildren, Caroline, James and William Atwell, Samuel and Benjamin Snider, Owen and Katelynn Harris, Keara Huson and Walker and Weston Jarrell.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James William and Helen Higginbotham Cain; her husband, Elman McCutchen Merritt; one son-in-law, David Fine and one sister, Dorothy Cain Miller.

Graveside services were held Monday, April 6, 2015, under the direction of Landess Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Elman McCutchen Merritt Scholarship Fund to benefit graduates of Campbell High School in Campbell, Mo. The memorials may be sent to East Tennessee Foundation, 625 Market Street, Knoxville, Tenn. 37902.