Bernice Merrill Fox

Bernice Merrill Fox

Born on April 27,1934, she was the beloved youngest daughter of Alvie Harrison and Alta Carrie Merrill. Bernice peacefully passed this life surrounded by her loving family on August 14, 2025, in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Bernice was born at the Merrill’s homeplace in Gans, Oklahoma and loved to tell stories of her idyllic childhood in the country. From eating peaches in her favorite secret place in the barn loft to picking blackberries, riding horses and baking pies and cakes. Milking cows and gathering eggs before school was a chore she shared with her brothers. Bernice delighted her family with funny stories of the antics she shared with her siblings and often talked about Old Ring, Old Ball, and Old Nell, favorite family animals. She loved to play the piano and mandolin and enjoyed family get togethers around the piano with popcorn and peanuts.

Bernice gave her life to Christ and was baptized at age 12 in the creek near their home and was a member of the First United Methodist Church. As a young girl, she excelled in school and was quite the basketball star as well, her Gans Grizzlies team going all the way to the semi-finals of the state championship tournament. She often said that Oklahoma City was quite the sight for a country girl from Gans. After graduating Gans High School in 1953, Bernice attended St. Edward Mercy Nursing Program in Fort Smith, Arkansas. She relished her role as a nurse for over 20 years and developed many special friendships across Sequoyah County. She was kind, compassionate, and full of grace for all that she encountered.

She met her husband, Walter Landrum Fox, Jr, at the age of 15. Walter and Bernice had their first date at a cakewalk held at Gans Bible Church. Bernice and Walter were married on February 7, 1956 in Sayre, Oklahoma at the courthouse on their way to the state of Washington. Both wanting to experience new places, they lived in Washington and Kansas City before moving back to settle in Sallisaw and start their family. Bernice was a devoted wife to Walter for 43 years, a cherished mother to Cynthia Lynn, a doting grandmother to Robby, Kyle, and Jack as well as her great-grandchildren, Hudson and Hallie. Bernice’s family was her world and she treasured every moment with them. Her nieces and nephews held a special place in her heart as well. She had a compassionate and forgiving spirit towards others and offered her family love, support, and encouragement in abundance. She never failed to be there when you needed her.

We will miss her immensely but take comfort in knowing that Jesus has already welcomed her and she is rejoicing with Walter, her loving husband. We know with all certainty that we shall see her again someday. Our lives will not be the same, but we are forever better because of her.

Cherishing her memory is her daughter, Cynthia Lynn Glander and husband Robert of Sallisaw, grandsons, Robert Fox Glander and wife Tawni of Fort Smith, AR, Kyle Joseph Glander and wife Sarah of Norman, OK, and Jack Landrum Glander of Edmond, OK; great-grandchildren Hudson Fox Glander and Hallie Sue Glander of Fort Smith, AR, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter; parents, Alvie and Carrie Merrill; three brothers, DB Merrill, Leon Merrill, and Alvie Harrison Merrill Jr, and four sisters, Edith Peterson, Ruby Gunter, Bonnie Fout, and Jean Moody.

Pallbearers are Robert Glander, Robby Glander, Kyle Glander, Jack Glander, Steve Merrill and DB Merrill.

Honorary pallbearers are her nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, August 19, 2025 at First United Methodist Church in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. Burial will follow at Sallisaw City Cemetery in Sallisaw, Oklahoma under the direction of Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Service, Inc.

Viewing will be 2 - 8 PM Sunday and 10 AM - 8 PM Monday at Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Home in Sallisaw where the family will greet 6 - 8 PM Monday.