Lila H. Merritt's Obituary
Lila H. Merritt, 96, of Clinton, passed away, Monday, February 17, 2020 at the Alverno – Clinton.
Funeral Services will be 2:00pm, Saturday, February 22, 2020 at the Clinton Chapel Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes and Crematory. Burial will be in the St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Lila Howell was born on August 17, 1923 in Ranger, Texas, the daughter of A.P. and Bertha (Groves) Howell. She graduated from Ranger High School and attended Texas Christian University. She married Dale Merritt on November 21, 1950 in Ft. Worth, Texas; he died in 1977.
Lila worked in the political science department at UCLA for many years. She was an active Republican and an avid Los Angeles Dodger fan.
Lila is survived by her son: Don (Cathy Matzen) Merritt of Clinton; a step-daughter: Patricia (Dave) Drazkowski of Huntington Beach, California; a son-in-law: Tom Smith of Lancaster, California; grandchildren: Erin (Donald) Caston of Rock Island, Illinois, Steven (Chelsea) Stern of Charleston, Illinois, John (Alyse) Stern of Battle Mountain, Nevada, Brian (Paula) Merritt of Chicago, Illinois, Colleen Merritt of Eldridge, Iowa, Ken (Sharon) Drazkowski of Seattle, Washington, Ellen (Rob) Erickson of Aliso Viejo, California, and Matt Smith (Maria) of Boulder Creek, California; 15 great-grandchildren; one brother: A.P. Howell, Jr. of Bonham, Texas, and two sisters: Wanda Sherman of Gainesville, Texas, and Betty (Pat) Fitzmorris of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, two sisters: Lola and Madeline, and her daughter: Cathy Smith.
Memorials can be made to Milan Christian Church – Milan, Illinois, or the GOP National Committee.
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