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Merle Lee Dunaway, born July 13, 1948, went to become a Heavenly Organist on June 24, 2019. Merle appreciated the opportunity of playing the organ and piano for many funeral and church services. She felt this was one of her heavenly blessings. Merle was preceded in death by her parents, Bud and Adell Pearce Lee and by her son Jim D. Dunaway.
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A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 5, at the Centennial Chapel, located at 880 N. Centennial Blvd in Taylor. Interment will follow at the Reed Hatch Memorial Cemetery.
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Merle grew up in Taylor with her brother, Guy Lowell Lee (Laurie); sisters, Carol Lee (deceased), Anita Lee Mills (Jeff) and Marsha Lee Washburn (Cauy). They were blessed with a lot of amazing cousins and wonderful aunts and uncles.
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Merle graduated from Snowflake High in 1966. She met Jim A. Dunaway during her senior year after he was discharged from his four years of service in the Air Force.
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Merle enrolled in Rose-Mar Beauty School in July of 1966, graduated in May of 1967 and married Jim on June 30, 1967. They made their home in Taylor and Jim worked at the paper mill for 40 years. Merle worked in the beauty business some during their married life. Merle also got her real estate license and enjoyed working with her real estate broker-sister, Anita Mills.
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Merle felt that her most precious blessing in life was being a mother to five beautiful, handsome, talented children. They were the light of her life! Her son, Jim D. Dunaway, is deceased. Surviving children, in-laws and grandchildren are: Jack R. Dunaway (DeDe) and children, Colton, Shylow and Shawntell (Darrin Forsyth); Jeff M. Dunaway (Lisa) and children Emilie, Logan, Bryson, Devin, Leah, Nixon and Seth; Jill Parry (DeWitt) and children, Nathan (Stephanie) and Sativalana, and K.J. Parry; Justin C. Dunaway and children Roxie Overly, Luxie and Trecks; and great-granddaughters, Tesslei Ryan Sarazin, Rylie and Hailee Forsyth.
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Merle enjoyed serving on the Taylor Town Council and was proud to be from Taylor and the heritage of her founding Pearce and Standiford forefathers! Jim and Merle had the opportunity of traveling to many beautiful countries and enjoying several cruises. The world has many beautiful places to visit, but there’s no place like the good ol’ USA.
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Merle was grateful for her membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and for the opportunity of serving in all of the women’s auxiliaries. She loved serving for 10 years in the Snowflake Temple, until she contracted ALS. Merle was grateful for the opportunity of attending many beautiful temples in several states and took comfort in the love and peace present in the House of the Lord.
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Owens Livingston Mortuary-Heritage Chapel in Snowflake handled the arrangements.
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