Kimberly Dawn Merrick June 13, 1965 ~ May 10, 2024 (age 58)

Funeral services for Kimberly Merrick, 58, of Clovis, will be held at 10:00 AM, Thurs., May 16, 2024 in the Wheeler Mortuary Chapel with Don Thomas officiating.  Burial will follow in the Causey cemetery with Terry Don Watson, Billy Joe Watson, Cary Jae Watson, Koddy Del Watson,  Chad Massey and Brent Hays serving as pallbearers.  All of Kim’s nieces and nephews along with Barry Hays, Tom Banks and Max Merrick will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Kimberly Dawn Merrick was born June 13, 1965, in Albuquerque, NM to the home of Kercida Faye (Watson) and Aubrey Howell “Jack” Merrick, and died at her home in Clovis on the afternoon of May 10, 2024.  Kim, or “Miss Kim,” as her students called her, grew up in Causey, and was baptized at the Causey Church of Christ.  She attended church at Third and Kilgore Church of Christ and 21st Street Church of Christ while in Clovis.

Kim attended school in Dora, and was a 1983 graduate of Dora High School where she played volleyball and was a cheerleader.  In addition, Kim was active in FHA and BPA.  Following graduation, she worked at the Portales National Bank with Gayle Ferguson.

Kim earned a Bachelor’s Degree in education from ENMU in 2008.  In 2019, she completed a Master’s Degree from Grand Canyon University.  From 2008 until 2011 Kim did substitute teaching in the Lubbock area, as well as working part time as a cashier at United Supermarkets.  In 2011, she began teaching Pre-K and Kindergarten in Tucumcari. In 2017 she accepted a job teaching first grade in Lamesa, TX, and then a year later moved to Clovis where she taught first grade at Parkview Elementary.

Kim was first diagnosed with cancer in 2011.  She continued teaching until November 2023 when she collapsed in her home.  In all of that time, even with all of her treatments, she rarely missed a day of work.   In November of 2023, she left the hospital to come home. The doctors did not think she would survive the trip to Clovis.  She proved them wrong.  She was under Hospice care just a few days shy of 6 months. The family would like to thank everyone for their prayers and support during this time and a special thank you to the Gentiva Hospice staff, especially her nurse, Diane.

Kim loved to shop for clothes and especially for purses.  She thoroughly enjoyed movies and the entire movie experience.  Kim idolized Tom Selleck.  She was an avid reader with a Master of Arts degree, Reading with an Emphasis in Elementary Education. Kim loved country music and dancing.  She also decorated cakes and cupcakes for her students.  Spending time with her grandchildren was extremely precious to her.  She especially loved her daughters, her daddy, and Dr. Pepper.

She is survived by her three daughters and two sons-in-law, Jessica and Joe Gonzalez of Fort Worth, Kayla Pemberton and Bryan Burbo of Fort Worth and Shelby and Stephen Mattox of Colorado Springs, CO; five grandchildren,  Logan and Luka Gonzalez and Elaina, Samantha and Zachary Pemberton; her parents, Kercida and Jack Merrick of Portales; two sisters, Kandie (Tom) Banks of Portales and Koletta (Barry) Hays of Dora; a brother, Eldon (Lisa) Merrick of Portales; as well as a number of other family members. She was preceeded in death by Maternal grandparents, Vernon and Bessie Watson and Paternal grands, Howell and Flo Merrick. Uncles, Junior Watson and Joe Merrick and cousin Scotty Watson.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Kimberly Dawn Merrick, please visit our floral store.