Merlene Smith

Services are scheduled at 2:00 P.M. Friday, May 13, at West Main Baptist Church for Merlene Faulk Smith, Artesia, New Mexico. Mrs. Smith, 85, died Tuesday, May 10, 2005 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Jimmy Hamilton will officiate at the services with burial at Woodbine Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Leroy Howard, Dan Cogar, Rusty McKee, Kent Bratcher, Mike Bratcher, and Greg Bratcher. Visitation at Terpening Son Mortuary will begin Thursday at 10:00 A.M. Merlene Smith was born July 2, 1919 in Trent, Texas; the daughter of D. W. Faulk and Vassie Eula Mann Faulk. On April 19, 1936 she was married to Doyle Smith in Olten, Texas. They came to Artesia from Olten there in 1938. Her husband preceded her in death August 26, 1990. She was also preceded in death by an infant son Donal Doyle Smith in 1947; her parents; and by brothers Melvin Faulk, Selman Faulk, Lowell Faulk; and sisters Sadie Coffman and Eula Hopper. She had worked at the school cafeteria, H J Grocery, and Tastee Freeze. She was a charter member of West Main Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School for many years. She was also a member of T.O.P.S., and was a volunteer with the Pecos Valley Baptist Association and Meals on Wheels. Survivors include her son Jerry Smith and wife Janice of Albuquerque, N.M.; a brother Harold Faulk and wife Joyce of Otis, N.M.; and nieces Ruth Bratcher, Arlean Fowler and Jo Bivens all of Artesia.