Merle Lee Shrum

Merle Shrum, 87, of Bonne Terre passed away Monday, September 18, 2023, at Parkland Health Center in Bonne Terre. Merle was born Friday, September 18, 1936, in Hillsboro, to the late Arthur Spellmeyer and Frances Evelyn (Lanham) Spellmeyer-Patton

Merle was a devoted member of the First Baptist Church of Bonne Terre where she loved playing the piano, singing in the choir, baking, and helping with any church events. Merle was very involved in her community, where she volunteered with a service time of over 3 decades at Helping Hand in Bonne Terre. In her younger years she enjoyed dressing up, wearing jewelry, competing in beauty pageants and was a runner up in the Miss Missouri Pageant in the 1950s.

In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her loving husband, Donald Shrum; son, Michael Shrum; brothers, Art, and Don Spellmeyer
Merle is survived by her loving daughter-in-law, LaDonna Shrum; grandchildren, Lindsay (Corey Carriker) Shrum, Derek (Jessica) Shrum, Dylan Shrum and Lauren Shrum; great-grandchildren, CJ, Charlee, Camdyn, Chloe, Carriker and Thomas Shrum. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her, including her church family.

Visitation will be held Friday, September 22, 2023, from 10:00 AM until service time of 11:00 AM at the First Baptist Church of Bonne Terre with Pastor Alan David officiating. Interment will follow at 2:00 PM at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery, 10180 Gravois Rd. Affton, MO 63123. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in Merle’s memory to the First Baptist Church in Bonne Terre.