Julie Merritt Thelwell, 49, died Aug. 19, 2011, at Treasure Coast Hospice. She was born in Fort Pierce and was a lifelong resident. She was employed for 20 years as a registered nurse at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute, Fort Pierce. She was a member of New Hope Baptist Church and Kairos Prison Ministries. Survivors include her husband of eight years, Trevor L. Thelwell of Fort Pierce; parents, Edwin S. "Hap" and Dianne Wheat Merritt; sister, Lynnett Merritt Baumker of Fort Pierce; and brother, Mike Merritt of Fort Pierce. She was preceded in death by her brother, Eddie Merritt; and grandparents, Jack and Margaret Wheat and Sherman and Margaret Merritt. Memorial contributions may be made to the
American Diabetes Association P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312;
www.diabetes.org. Services: Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Aug. 23 at Yates Funeral Home, Fort Pierce. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Aug. 24 at the funeral home with the Rev. Craig Bridgers officiating. Burial will be at White City Cemetery.
Ronna Bergen (Perry)
Julie was one of my oldest & dearest friends. We met sometime during middle school and rode horses together in White City until we both went off to college.
I have so many memories of the goofy, stupid, hysterical, and sometimes frightful things we did during highschool. Julie, Debbie Beauchesne, and I made the most of whatever we were doing.......
Julie was married 7 years ago to a wonderful man. God knew she would need a man of great courage & strentgh for the later years of her life & Trevor fullfilled that role in Julies life. He has been her rock!
Julies faith in Jesus Christ was evident to all who knew her & she wanted anyone who had contact with her to know about Christs love. Not to long ago she was telling me about witnessing to a particular ambulance driver whenever she was picked up and taken to dialysis. Even though she could no longer get around on her own, and was in continual pain, Julie wanted to make a difference in someone elses life by sharing the gospel & her faith.
I will miss picking up the phone & calling her with a medical question or just our long chats about family, my kids, or our crazy animals. Or maybe I should word that, our animals & my crazy kids! But Julie loved my kids & they loved her!
I can go on & on but I will stop here.
Till we meet again-
Ronna