Granbury - Bernice Dancer passed away July 26, 2012 in Granbury, Texas where she resided for the past 11 years. Graveside services will be held Tuesday, July 31, 2012 in the Morton Memorial Cemetery, Morton, Texas. Visitation will be 5 to 7 pm Sunday, July 29, 2012 at Martin's Funeral Home in Granbury.
She lived many years in Morton, where she raised her family and was a member of the Church of Christ. She was born in Pecan Gap, Texas on July 19, 1917 to Charlie and Willie Merrill. She was one of four children; two brothers, Ted and JL and one sister, Melba. The family later moved to the plains of Texas where she spent most of her life.
She married Norman Anyx on Dec. 24, 1936 and had two daughters, Norma Joan and Patsy Lou. Norman died in 1956 at the age of 41. Bernice, at age 39 and having never worked outside the home, was faced with providing for herself and a daughter who was still in school. She worked full time at the school cafeteria and part-time at a floral shop. After the daughter's graduation, she worked full time as a florist.
She worked a total of 42 years as an accomplished florist, which allowed her to enjoy her love of flowers. However, her greatest joy was being a homemaker, cooking, sewing, gardening, raising her family and being Nana to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
After retiring from the floral business in Seminole, Texas, at age 83 (and then only because the floral shop was sold?) she moved to Granbury, where she resided for the next 11 years. She first lived at quail Park Retirement community, then their assisted care unit and was currently living at Granbury Villa.
Survivors include one brother, JL Merrill of Frederick, Okla, her two daughters, Norma Joan Cooper Kitchens and Patsy Lou Middleton Brown and husband Lee, all of Granbury, Texas, three grandchildren, Bradley Scott Cooper and wife Kathy of Silver Lake Wis., Teri Suzanne Cooper Tod and husband Matt of Scottsdale, Ariz, and Darin Shane Middleton and wife Holly of San Antonio, Texas; seven great-grandchildren, Jack and Maddie Cooper, Crystal and Josh Tod and Kenady, Aysia and Arden Middleton; four great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She will be best remembered as a woman who, from the Great Depression to current time, successfully met life's challenges while providing love and wonderful memories for family and friends. Arrangements are by Marti's Funeral Home of Granbury and Ellis Funeral Home of Morton.