Anna Merle Gregg Grim, 85, died on October 14, 2020. She was born on October 31, 1934 in Stone County, Reeds Spring, Missouri to Daniel Enos and Sylvia Grace Macomb Gregg. Anna Merle and Thomas Aaron Grim were united in marriage on January 8, 1954 in Springfield, Missouri.

Anna Merle was proceeded in death by her parents, her husband, Thomas Aaron Grim, and three  siblings, Nathan Enos Gregg, Charles Everett Gregg, and Sylvia Lula Ann Gregg Proffitt Chapman. She is survived by three daughters: Dorothy Jane Grim Cook and husband Kevin of Bonne Terre, Missouri, Sara Teresa Grim of Taoyuan, Taiwan, and Suzann Kay Grim Lynch and husband Todd of Joplin, MO. There are 4 grandchildren: Melissa Ann Cook Bollinger, Sarah Kaye Cook McFarland, Emily Grace Lynch, and Jennifer Suzann Lynch. There are seven great grandchildren: Jacob Bollinger, Eli McFarland, Kylee Bollinger, Caleb McFarland, Claire McFarland, Chloe McFarland, and Lexi Bollinger. Anna Merle is also survived by her brothers, Edgar and Elmer Gregg, and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.

Anna Merle graduated from Blue Eye High School, Blue Eye, Missouri in 1952. She worked in the registrar’s office at Southwest Missouri State and attended part-time there for six years before moving to Fordland, where her husband Thomas took a teaching job as the Industrial Arts and Math instructor for several years. The family then moved to  Mountain Grove, Missouri, and to  Springfield, Missouri as Thomas followed his teaching career and then to Columbia, Missouri to complete his PHD. Anna Merle cared for her family and worked as a church secretary. She worked in the US Aid/Foreign Visitors’ office on the Missouri University Campus while in Columbia. When the family moved to Desloge, Missouri, where Thomas served as the Assistant Director of the Vocational-Technical School, Anna Merle attended Mineral Area College for her Associate Degree in Nursing. She worked as an RN at Farmington Hospital, Freeman Hospital in Joplin, and in St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. She was a school nurse for seven years serving the Springfield R-12 Schools. Anna Merle then worked as the admissions counselor for the Hospice of Southwest Missouri. After working as a registered nurse for almost 20 years, Anna Merle retired to tend to her husband. She enjoyed the family, crocheting, knitting, fishing, driving the RV, ceramics, quilting, reading and country living along with her husband for 58 plus years.

Anna Merle was saved at age nine and baptized in the White River (now Tablerock Lake) at Kimberling City, Missouri. She was a long time Southern Baptist and enjoyed singing in the choir and teaching Sunday School. She served as a church secretary at South Haven Baptist Church, Springfield, Missouri, First Baptist Church, Desloge, Missouri, and First Baptist Church, Mtn. Grove, Missouri. She was presently serving as librarian at NewStart Southern Baptist Church, Springfield, MO. She loved quilting with friends at South Haven and at the Strafford Senior Center and singing in the Senior choir at South Haven First Baptist Church. She also loved traveling to National parks, the Holy Land, England, Ireland, Scotland, Niagara Falls, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, plus many, many trips to Florida beaches to enjoy the ocean, which was a must for her.

Visitation will be at Greenlawn Funeral Home North on Friday, October 23 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Services will be held at Greenlawn Funeral Home North on Saturday, October 24 at 11 am with burial in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Springfield, Missouri, with Pastor Gary Norcross officiating.

Memorial contributions may be given to: The Building Fund/New Start Southern Baptist Church, 309 S. Scenic, Springfield, Missouri or to South Haven Baptist Church.