Avis E. Merrill of Bethany Center died on Monday, April 24, 2017 leaving behind her 90 year old body to enter into still sweeter communion with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Quoting her sister Eleanor she wrote "I am the lucky one," telling us in our grief to rejoice for her. Avis married Loren F. Merrill on March 4, 1948 and together they raised 5 children. Surviving with her loving husband of 69 years are her children, Glenn & Linda Merrill, Joy & Lance Hattendorf, Ann & Greg Miller all of Bethany Center, Ellen & David Bittner of Macedon, NY, and Jim & Bethany Merrill of Folsom, CA. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Aaron & Rosanne Merrill of Pouses Point, NY, Emily & Tim Craft of Gates, Lori Hattendorf of Greece, Peggy & Greg Johnson of Bethany Center, Stephen & Terry Miller of Warsaw, Terenti Bittner of Perinton, Max & Amy Bittner of Henrietta, Tahlia & Ronald Kirk of Austin, TX, Trevor & Diana Merrill of Sacramento, CA, 13 great-grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren and 9 step-great grandchildren, her brother, Lyle (Carol) Embt of Bethany Center, many nieces, nephews, ‘adopted children of all ages’ who are honored to call her ‘mom,’ and her beloved cat, Diggen. She is preceded in death by her parents, William & Edith (Norton) Embt, and 2 sisters Eleanor Richardson and June Wood. Avis was born 6/1/27 on the Embt family farm in Bethany Center and lived her entire life on the Bethany Center Road. After high school at Alexander Central, she worked locally in several secretarial/clerical positions and attended Rochester Business Institute. She held various positions in her almost 40 years as an employee of Genesee County including the Genesee Co. Nursing Home from 1967-1974 and the Office for the Aging, 1974 to her retirement in 1989. She was a lifelong member of the Bethany Center Baptist Church, served many years as Secretary of the Maple Lawn Cemetery Association, and was a long-time member of the Christian Business Women. Avis’ family invites friends and family to honor her at the Batavia H.E. Turner Funeral Home on Friday, May 5 from 4PM-7PM and at the Bethany Center Baptist Church on Saturday, May 6 at 3PM for a funeral service of thanksgiving to God. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Bethany Center Baptist Church or the Maple Lawn Cemetery.
