Dorothy Jane Jenkins Merrill, born March 2, 1929, longtime owner of Little Folks Day Care Center in Beaumont, passed this life October 2, 2019 at Village Creek Nursing Home at 12:30 am. She is proceeded in death by her parents, Ernest and Emmy Jenkins; her beloved husband, David; and her grandson, Micah Parker.
Dorothy was born in Temple, Texas and moved often in her childhood since her father worked for the Railroad Co. but settled in Waco as a teenager where she met David Merrill whom she loved dearly since she was 14. They married in 1948 when she was 19.
She raised 5 children who were born within 4 1/2 years of each other and lived in virtual poverty until David found work in Beaumont at Texas US Chemical Company in 1958.
Wanting to increase their income and considering the number of union strikes, she was very industrious, always looking for ways to earn more money.
First, she started The Rummage House on Magnolia Street and then she started a SnoWiz business with two locations and her children participated in running them. Both businesses did quite well until she found what she was best at: taking care of children.
She started taking care of children at her West Lucas residence, the first day care center in Beaumont. The business was so successful, after enlarging her house several times, she bought a house on 11th Street, which had to be enlarged several times and was Little Folks Daycare, which she ran for 40 years.
At heart, she was a savvy businesswoman and was able to buy wooded acreage in Lumberton and build a house there where she lived for the last 43 years of her life. She loved the woods, the lake, and all the beautiful nature she was surrounded by.
Dorothy loved children and during her lifetime took care of countless children through the number of years of operation until she almost died in a car accident in 2002.
Dorothy was very creative, loved adventure, traveling, and reading, especially books by Louis L'Amour. She was a fabulous cook and enjoyed perfecting different cuisines such as Asian food. When she was very poor, with 5 little children, she would look in the pantry and if she couldn't find something to cook, she made up recipes with what was there and often they became family favorites.
Dorothy invested wisely and was very generous with the money she'd earned. She gave to many charities, friends and family in need with the money she'd worked so hard to earn. She spoke often of how unbelievable it was that she had been so blessed and could live comfortably.
Dorothy adored her children and David. She was a fantastic grandmother of 9 grandchildren who loved her deeply. She was a loving and caring mother in law.
Dorothy was a very spiritual person, and testified about her relationship with God and Jesus as her Savior. She was nonjudgmental about any shortcomings of others, accepting them into her life lovingly. She loved greatly and easily and was loved dearly by many people.
Her special sayings were: If life gives you lemons, make lemonade; and Action cures anxiety. Those who knew her life well, saw a life well lived.
She is survived by her five children: Marilyn Andreini; Mark Merrill and wife, Cindy; Jane Miller and husband, Mike; Dennis Merrill; Stephen Merrill and wife, Tina. She has 9 grandchildren: Merrill, Micah (deceased), Matthew, Benjamin, R.A., Jane Margaret, Nathan, Jeannine, and Lindy. Dorothy is also survived by siblings: Maxine Keller and Ernest Jenkins. She has many great grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 5, 2019, at Claybar Kelley Watkins Funeral Home in Beaumont, Texas. Officiating will be Jean-Paul Osteen. Burial will follow at Haven of Rest Cemetery.
Visitation will be prior to the service beginning at 12:00 p.m., at Claybar Kelley Watkins Funeral Home.