Merle Louise Bennett

Merle Bennett, 93, passed away Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009, at a Weatherford care facility. Funeral: 10 a.m. Monday in White's Chapel of Memories. Interment: Aledo-Brown Cemetery. Visitation: 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at White's Funeral Home, 130 Houston Ave., Weatherford. Born in Reno in 1916, Merle Bennett moved to Aledo as a small child and called it home for many years where she lived with her parents, Ed and Pearl Glover, and her sisters, Stella, Elva, Bernice and Opal, and brothers, Dick, Emory and W.J. She attended Aledo schools until she married another Aledo resident, Thomas Marvin Bennett, in 1934. Mrs. Bennett had four children, Shirley, Bobby, Helen and Judy. Most attended Aledo schools. In the early 1950s, T.M. Bennett attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and became a minister, moving the family frequently as he presided over churches in communities like Flat, Whitt, Hamilton, Bennett and several in the area such as Calvary Baptist Church, Beulah Baptist Church, Poolville Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Big Lake. While Mr. Bennett was in school, Mrs. Bennett helped with the family finances by working as a waitress, grocery clerk and a clerk at J.C. Penney's. She was steadfast in her support of her husband at each of his churches, teaching classes, playing the piano, organizing Bible schools and planning events and meals. Upon retirement, the couple moved to Weatherford and both were active in First Baptist Church of Weatherford, Dan Johnson Singers and the Senior Center. Since the death of her husband in 1992, she continued to be active in the community at her church, singing and playing 42 at the Senior Center. Mrs. Bennett was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Marvin Bennett; a grandson, Tony Dwayne Davis; one daughter, Shirley Fyvie; and all immediate family members and in-laws of the Glover family. Survivors: Son, Bobby Bennett of Pauline, S.C.; daughters, Helen Bennett Dill and husband, Durwin Dill, of Weatherford and Judy Bennett Campbell and husband, Leroy Campbell, of Fort Worth; son-in-law, Dwayne Fyvie of Fort Worth; 10 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Bill Bennett and wife, Carlene, of Mineral Wells; sister-in-law, Zuda Hurd of Waxahachie; and nieces and nephews in the Glover and Bennett families.