Merle Richards

Merle Inez Richards, 79, of Lockhart, passed gently and peacefully surrounded by her family on Sept. 22, 2010. She was born at home in Muldoon, Fayette County, Texas, on April 30, 1931, to George Archie Hart and Carrie Bell Sawyer Hart. She was a member of the Muldoon Methodist Church and attended the local school there.

Merle, her husband and her family moved to Burn

et in the 1960s, where she raised her five children. She left Burnet two years ago, in 2008, to live with her son and daughter-in-law in Lockhart, where she enjoyed good health and an active social life among new and old friends.

She is preceded in death by her first and only love, WWII veteran Birdo Lee “B. L.” Richards. The couple was married in Temple, Texas, in May 1948. Also preceding her are her parents; one brother, Ernest; sister, Bobbie Jean Jackson; one grandchild, Natasha Richards; and Natasha’s mother, Kathy Ratliff-Richards

She is survived by all five children: Mandolin “M. L.” Richards and wife, Diane, of Lockhart, Robert W. Richards and wife, Kala, of Midland, Willy L. Richards, of San Marcos, Birdo Lee Richards, Jr., of Burnet, and Erle Ann Kinchloe.

A memorial service will be held at a future date and time in Burnet. The family would like to thank everyone for their prayers and kind thoughts these past several days.

In lieu of floral or other tributes please make donations of money, food, household goods, clothing or volunteer hours to: LaCare (Ministerial Services & Food Bank Location), 507 W. Buchannan Dr., Burnet, Texas 78611.