Merle Yancey Norton, 92

September 16, 1933 – March 18, 2026

Merle Yancey Norton, Ripley, born 16 September 1933, in Tippah County, Mississippi, died on 18 March 2026. She is preceded in death by her husband, Roy Joe Norton; her father and mother, Roger E. Yancey and Annie Roten Yancey; her older sister Eloise Eaton (Doyle); and brother, Roger N. Yancey (Dwalia). She is survived by her loving family members: son Roy Mike Norton, daughter Mary Norton Yarbrough (Scott), granddaughters Elizabeth (Will) and Rebecca (Carson), younger sister Mary Lynn Bennett (Bobby), and sister-in-law, Dr. Dwalia South. Merle cherished her extended family of many cousins, nephews, and especially her Eaton nieces: Mary, Martha, and Brenda. Merle leaves behind three especial life-long friends: Pollye (Gaillard) Calvary, Becky (Witt) Smith and JoAnn (Haun) Shufford.

Merle graduated from Ripley High School in 1952 and married Roy Joe Norton in 1954 after attending Northeast Junior College. She lived in both Ripley and Memphis. Merle found Christian faith early in life at the Spout Springs Presbyterian Church, and she became an almost eight decades member of the United Methodist Church. She sang in the choir as soprano and tenor and was a UMYF leader.

Merle relished her professional life, working for over fifty years as a stenographer, secretary, executive assistant, para legal and court reporter. Merle was proud to be from Mississippi. In 1995, she represented the state as Ms. Senior Mississippi in Biloxi. In 2002, she represented the state as Outstanding Senior Worker of the Year in Washington, D.C.

Merle enjoyed many hobbies and interests. She was an accomplished oil artist, specializing in landscapes and portraits. She led Girl Scout Troop #256 on fun adventures and escapades from 1975-1983. She served on many civic organizations throughout northeast Mississippi for decades. She enjoyed traveling, visiting 49 states and several continents. She occasionally participated in local theatre productions. Merle was an accomplished dancer who developed wonderful friendships with fellow dancers, while “getting my exercise”. She enjoyed all music, especially singing with her family. She performed with the North Mississippi Dulcimer Group, Tippah Dulcimer Guild at the Natchez Trace Visitor Center monthly.

A service will be held at the Ripley Funeral Home in the Heritage Chapel at 5 PM on March 21, 2026, with a visitation one-hour prior beginning at 4 PM. Merle loved color, and the family invites attendees to wear a favorite color in her honor. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donation of remembrance to the

Ripley Presbyterian Church https://www.ripleypresbyterianchurch.com/giving-tithes-2/

Gilda’s Club https://gildasclubmiddletn.org/ways-to-give/donate/ or your local library.

Please follow the funeral home link above for further information, or to send online condolences or memorial gifts.

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Visitation

Saturday
March 21, 2026
4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Heritage Chapel of Ripley Funeral

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Funeral

Saturday
March 21, 2026
5:00 PM
Heritage Chapel of Ripley Funeral