Merrill Runyan

Merrill Grace Runyan, 76, of Council Bluffs, Iowa died on Tuesday, February 19, 2008, at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She was born November 26, 1931, to Jay Liston and Grace (Mills) Runyan in Woodbine, Iowa. Merrill graduated from Woodbine High School in 1950 and then attended Wayne State Teachers College in Wayne, Nebraska. She taught country school at Lincoln Center, Woodbine for one year. She then moved to Saginaw, Michigan where she taught for one year. She then moved to Boone, Iowa, and with a friend, she established a pre-school. In 1955 Merrill was injured in a motor vehicle accident resulting in her being a paraplegic. After a long recovery, she was able to return to college to complete her degree. She graduated, Cum Laude, from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in December 1973. Merrill taught in several elementary schools in Council Bluffs and also at the Vocational Development Center of the Rose Kennedy School. It was at this school in 1983 she received the Employee of the Year Award.

Merrill never saw her life as having limitations. With her many and varied interests and quick wit, she was a joy to be with. Although she had no children of her own, she always thrilled to the accomplishments of her nieces and nephews.

Merrill was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Jay Runyan; and niece Vicky Jo Runyan. She is survived by one brother, Vernon Runyan of Cherokee, Iowa; three sisters, Mary Ann Matteson of Harlan, Iowa, Eva Lou and her husband Larry Meyers of Burlington, Iowa, Evelyn Hunsader of Prior Lake, Minnesota; sister-in-law, Joann Runyan of Omaha, Nebraska; and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral Services
2:00 pm Saturday, February 23, 2008
Community of Christ
Woodbine, Iowa

Clergy
Elder John Edwards
Kanesville Community of Christ

Musicians
Mrs. Merril McElwain
Sarah Hill

Pall Bearers
Jed Hunsader, Todd Matteson
Cindy Runyan, Gary Ellison
Roy Runyan, Teresa Matteson

Final Resting Place
Woodbine Cemetery
Woodbine, Iowa