Merri Bagwell, of Buchanan
April 16, 1955 — May 1, 2017
Niles Daily Star, Published 9:30 am Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Merri Bagwell, 62, of Buchanan, passed away Monday, May 1, 2017, at her home while surrounded by her family.
Merri was born April 16, 1955, to the late Kenneth and Marian (Dempsey) VanLue in Niles.
- Merri Bagwell
She graduated from Niles High School in 1973. She became a lifelong waitress at many restaurants in the Niles area, including Dougan’s Pit Stop/Viking Grill, where she worked as a server for more than 20 years. Merri was a people person in every sense of the word. She loved socializing and interacting with everyone she met.
On June 20, 1989, Merri wed Johnny Bagwell at a ceremony in Las Vegas. The two were inseparable. They epitomized the definition of love. There were never two people who were more committed to caring for one another.
Merri always saw the good in every situation; if it was raining it meant the flowers were going to grow, if it snowed it meant the grandchildren could go sledding, and when she was diagnosed with cancer at age 30 it meant: “at least I won’t have to shave the hair on my legs!” She also saw the good in all those around her. She was a lover of all things, especially nature, music, simplicity, people, children and her family.
Merri enjoyed traveling with her husband; it didn’t matter if it was in the backyard making up a song about potatoes on the way to their vegetable garden, taking a two-week train trip to Yosemite National Park or one of their many cruises. Merri always saw the positive in every situation. As long as Johnny was by her side she was happy in the adventure they were on called life.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth VanLue and Marian VanLue-Gilbert; son Samuel Reagan; brother Kenneth VanLue Jr. and grandson Parker Williams.
Merri is survived by her husband of nearly 28 years, Johnny; their children, Julie (Mark) Williams of Niles and Melissa Bagwell of Niles; grandchildren Alexis (PJ) Pollock, Anthony Parris, Abby Parris, Garrett Williams, Carter Williams, DJ Bagwell and Delainey Reagan; great-grandson Remington Pollock; siblings Linda (Steve) Kujawa of Edwardsburg and Dan (Pam) VanLue of Niles; and many extended family members and close friends.
A time of visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 4, 2017, at Brown Funeral Home in Niles. Funeral services to honor Merri’s amazing life will be hosted at 11 a.m. Friday, May 5, 2017, at Pokagon United Methodist Church.
Condolences, photos and memories may be left for the family at BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Niles.