Merrilyn Barton

Merrilyn Barton

Merrilyn Ann Barton, 80, of Thrall, TX, passed away peacefully Friday, April 11, 2025, at Ascension Seton Williamson Hospital in Round Rock, after a brief illness.

Born Merrilyn Ann Turner on July 6, 1944, in Commerce, TX, she was the oldest daughter of C.C. and Eva Turner. She was raised in Longview, TX and graduated from Longview High School in 1962. She and her family were active members at First Baptist Church in Longview where she was baptized at a young age. Her Christian faith guided her every day of her life. Merrilyn attended Kilgore Junior College and Baylor University, where she graduated in 1966 with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a Teaching Certificate. On June 18, 1966, she married Sterlin Barton, her middle school sweetheart, and they settled in Austin, TX later that summer to begin their life together. She worked at The University of Texas as Secretary to the Dean of Education before starting a family. While her children were in elementary school, she was approached by the principal to help with a new reading program that was being started and thus began her lengthy career with Austin Independent School District. She worked at Pecan Springs Elementary, Blanton Elementary, Graham Elementary, and Summit Elementary, where she retired in 2009. Most of those years were spent working as a teacher’s aide in Special Education. Her volunteer work also centered around young people. She was a Sunday School teacher at Hyde Park Baptist Church as well as volunteered her time at Delwood Northeast Optimist as a member of the women’s auxiliary. She was also co-leader with Sterlin of a Girl Scout troop for several years.

Upon retirement, Sterlin and Merrilyn moved to Thrall and became members of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Thorndale. She treasured being a part of the Milam County Genealogical Society and the Terrific Tuesday Bible Study Group at St. Paul as well as volunteering her time in the church with various projects.

Throughout her life in Austin and Thorndale, she was an avid sports fan, especially anything regarding the Texas Longhorns. Her favorite times were spent at Disch-Falk Field watching the UT baseball team. Even after giving up her season tickets in 2015, she still enjoyed scoring the baseball games whether the game was on Longhorn Network or simply on the radio.

Merrilyn is preceded in death by Sterlin, her husband of 48 years, her parents, C.C. and Eva Turner and her brother-in-law, Ben Carnes. She is survived by her daughters Susan Westveld, and husband Kurt of Austin, and Sharon Zarriello, and husband Ron of Georgetown. Her grandchildren, Keely and Keaton, were the absolute loves of her life. In addition, Merrilyn is survived by her sister, Linda Carnes and brother Jerry Turner of Vicksburg, MS, and brother-in-law Fred Barton and wife Terry of Springtown, TX. She is also survived by her loving nieces Jennifer Wilson and husband Stan, Kimberly Sauls and husband Chad, Becky Nobles and husband Tom, and Leslie Barton Johnson as well as numerous great nieces and nephews. Merrilyn was a loving wife, mother and “Granna” and will be missed greatly by her family.

Visitation provided by Providence Funeral Home, 807 Carlos Parker Blvd, Taylor, TX 76574 on Tuesday, April 15 from 5:00-7:00 pm. Funeral service will be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday, April 16 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Thorndale, TX. Reverend Jeff Doria will be the officiant, burial will follow in the St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 101 N 3rd St. Thorndale, TX 76577. The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to the ICU nurses at Ascension Seton Williamson, specifically Nancy, Joe, Chenay, Josue, Tiffany, Frances, and Sam who provided special care to our mother.