Peggy Bruce Merritt, 89, Bardstown

Peggy Bruce Merritt, 89, of Bardstown, died from complications of a hip fracture at Flaget Memorial Hospital on Friday, April 20, 2012. She was born Peggy Bruce Hunt in Bartlesville, Okla., on Dec. 4, 1922. She served in the US Navy (WAVES) in World War II.

She held a Master’s Degree in English and taught English Literature and Home Economics in Anchorage, Alaska for 20 years.

She was an avid reader, letter writer, photographer, and made photographic scrapbooks and was an expert seamstress, making many of her own clothes. She also enjoyed cooking and baking and loved to entertain in her home. She entered the Mrs. America contest in the 1960’s and won the Mrs. Anchorage title and was runner-up for Mrs. Alaska.

She had many friends all over the country and belonged to the Beta Sigma Phi sorority for most of her adult life. She traveled extensively, both in the US and abroad.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Eva and Dudley Hunt; two husbands, Billy Gene Ames and William Merritt; one brother, Dudley Hunt; one sister, Sara Joyce Cooper; three children, Leah McChristian, Mark Nelson Ames, and Joseph Bruce Ames.

Survivors include her son, Dr. A. Dudley Ames and his wife Andrea Ames, both of Bardstown; four granddaughters, Ramona Fennern and Christine Knapp both of Minnesota, Katrina Ames of Arkansas, and Jessica Ames of Alaska; four grandsons, Gary Ames of Springdale, Ark., William Ames and Joseph Ames Jr., both of Arkansas, and Nick Ames of Alaska; and 11 great-grandchildren.

As per her wishes there will be no funeral. A memorial service will be planned at a later date.

Barlow Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. For more information please visit http://www.barlowfh.com/html/

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