Obituary of Clarice Rose Merritt Page

Clarice Rose Merritt Page CHAPEL HILL - Clarice Rose Merritt Page passed away peacefully in her home on June 10, 2015, ending her courageous battle with cancer. She was born in Chapel Hill on February 28, 1937, the third daughter of Ruby Hunt Merritt and Eben Gore Merritt. She graduated from Chapel Hill High School where she met the love of her life, Bill Page. They both attended, and graduated from, East Carolina College and were married in Chapel Hill after completing their education. Clarice was a talented educator, teaching children at Holt Elementary, Storybook Farm and Carrboro Elementary Schools for nearly 30 years. She cherished her years teaching and remained in contact with many of her former students and co-workers locally and across the world. A woman of unfaltering faith, she was an active member of Carrboro Baptist Church and, more recently, Carrboro United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir for many years until her health prevented it. Even when she was not singing in the choir, her beautiful soprano voice could still be heard over the congregation on most Sunday mornings. She will be remembered by friends and family as a gifted artist, designing and painting her Christmas, birthday and all-occasion cards. She enjoyed traveling with her husband and friends, visiting nearly every state in the US after she and Bill retired from teaching. Bill Page, loving husband for nearly 56 years, survives of the home. Also surviving are two sons, Bruce Page and wife Linda Maynard, of Apex, and Doug Page and partner Jamie Firth, of High Point. She is survived also by her two sisters, Virginia Grantham of Carrboro, Iris Womble and husband Tom, of Winston-Salem; her brother, Dr. Wyndell Merritt of New Kent, VA; and a sister-in-law, Kim Page of Carrboro. Many nieces, nephews, cousins and "adopted" grandchildren are left to cherish their memories of Clarice. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by a brother-in-law, Ben Grantham. "My first love was God, second family, third friends, especially children, and then music." The family would like to express appreciation to the staff of Southern Comfort Home Care for the genuine loving care provided in the last two weeks of Clarice's journey. She could not have remained in the comfort of her home without their expert and tender care. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Walker's Funeral Services in Chapel Hill. Burial will be private and a Service of Remembrance and Celebration will be held at Carrboro United Methodist Church on Saturday, June 13, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to Carrboro United Methodist Church, UNC Lineberger Cancer Center, or Transitions Hospice Care of Wake County.