Vickie Jo Fletcher Merriman
Vickie Jo Fletcher Merriman, 63, died at 9:18 p.m. Saturday, April 17, 2021, at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.
Vickie was born on Oct. 23, 1957, in Christopher, the daughter of Robert Henry Fletcher and Bobbie Ruth Simpson Fletcher.
She married Richard Merriman on Oct. 26, 2012, and he survives. Her first marriage was to Bob J. Finn. Together they raised two wonderfully caring children.
She was a loving wife, mother, grandma and great-grandmother who enjoyed spending time with family and friends.
Vickie became a Christian as a young girl and most recently was attending High Point Church of Marion.
She loved spending time at the farm and enjoying the outdoors fishing, cooking out, gardening, crafting, watching wildlife, reading and worshiping God.
Vickie loved people and served and worked her entire career in social services.
Early in her life she was employed at Centerstone in West Frankfort. Later she worked at the Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna and at the DHS office in Marion. Vickie last worked at the Division of Rehabilitation Services in Anna for 20 years providing services to persons with disabilities.
Vickie is survived by her husband Richard of Goreville; one daughter, Elisabeth A. Finn and husband Adebiyi Odunfa-Jones of Belleville; five sons, Christopher D. Finn and life partner Jennifer Filkins of West Frankfort, Scott Merriman of Cobden, Tony Merriman (Becky) of Cobden, Tim Merriman (April) of Anna and Shane Merriman of Cobden; 12 grandchildren, Samantha Finn of West Frankfort and Abigail Odunfa-Jones of Belleville, James and Jackson Spurlock, Jon, Hannah, Jerad (Hailey), Josh (Stephanie), Josie, Clay, Jake and Maddie Merriman; five great-grandchildren, Lucas, Weston, Nora, Carter and Cameron Merriman; two brothers, Terry Fletcher of Ewing and Mike Fletcher of Thompsonville; one sister, Pauletta Henson of Christopher; brothers-in-law Curt Gibbs of Thompsonville, Martin Henson of Christopher, Rick Merriman of Anna, Lenny Koniak of Mt. Olive and John Ondo of Sawyerville; sisters-in-law Jackie Fletcher of Ewing, Dixie Fletcher of Thompsonville, Barbara Sandlin and Sonja Merriman of Anna, Sherry Koniak of Mt. Olive and Sandy Ondo of Sawyerville; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
She was preceded in death by her grandmother, Ozell (Preas) Piper; parents Bobbie Coulter and Robert Fletcher; twin brothers Ronald and Donald Fletcher; a sister, Sandra (Fletcher) Gibbs and a brother-in-law, Carl Sandlin.
Funeral services were at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 24, at Blue Funeral Home in Goreville, with Pastor Dean Hammonds officiating. Burial followed in Cana Cemetery in Goreville.
Memorials can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, 12221 Merit Dr., Suite 1950, Dallas, Texas 75251.
For more information or to sign the memorial guest register, visit bluefuneralhome.com.