Vickie Jo Merriman

Vickie Jo (Fletcher) Merriman, age 63, passed away at 9:18 pm Saturday, April 17, 2021 at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.
Vickie was born on October 23, 1957 in Christopher, IL, the daughter of Robert Henry Fletcher and Bobbie Ruth (Simpson) Fletcher. She married Richard Merriman on October 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 Choate Mental Health in Anna and the DHS office in Marion.  Vickie last worked at the Division of Rehabilitation Services in Anna for twenty 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; twelve 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, 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-laws, 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; and sister Sandra (Fletcher) Gibbs and brother-in-law, Carl Sandlin. 

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, April 24, 2021, at Blue Funeral Home in Goreville with Pastor Dean Hammonds officiating.  Burial will follow at Cana Cemetery in Goreville. Visitation will be from 11:00 am on Saturday until the funeral hour at 1:00 pm.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Judes or The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition/12221 Merit Drive, Suite 1950/Dallas, TX 75251 and will also be accepted at the funeral home.
For more information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit bluefuneralhome.com