Ophelia R. Justice-Merrill, 83, Pioneer

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Ophelia R. Justice-Merrill, age 83 of Pioneer, Texas passed away on Monday, March 6, 2023 at home surrounded by all her loved ones.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 11 at 2:00 PM at the First Baptist Church in Cross Plains, Texas. Burial will follow after the service at Pioneer Cemetery in Pioneer, Texas.

Ophelia was born on November 22, 1939 in Sherman Texas, to George Delmus Justice and Vivian Leona Gantz-Justice. As a young girl, she moved to many towns in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri before her family settled in Pioneer Texas in 1957. She graduated from Cross Plains High School in 1958. On June 7, 1958, she married Harold Clyde Merrill at the Old Methodist Church in Cross Plains, Texas. Together they raised 4 daughters, Teresa Sue, Robin Ann, Cheryl Lynn, and Kimberly Lorain, in Pioneer, Texas.

Ophelia was a homemaker until 1975 when she began her many year journey with the Dairy Queen in Cross Plains. She was well known across the state for her large cinnamon rolls, biscuits, cinnamon twist, hot rolls, and her daily specials. A town favorite was the all you can eat beans and cornbread with bread pudding. After 22 years, she retired from Dairy Queen. But in true Ophelia fashion she retired only to turn around, and go to work at United Supermarkets in Abilene. She then returned to Pioneer with her family to open Ophelia’s, or the Barbeque place as many knew it.

Ophelia always had a servant’s heart, and never missed an opportunity to help others, in other words feed others. In the mid to late eights she helped put on the Rock a Thon’s that would help with donations for Children’s’ Miracle network. She also spent many hours baking pies and other sweets for the Cross Plains Community Cancer Walk. One of the things she was most proud of was her help in the start of Buffalo Breakfast (which is still going today). Her and the ladies at DQ would spend hours making a large breakfast buffet for all the football players, cheerleaders, and other students on Football Friday’s.

She enjoyed the springtime, and planting flowers to enjoy throughout the season. Some of her other favorite hobbies were sewing, embroidering, and crocheting. She would make pillow cases or blankets for all her grandkids, and crochet hot pads for everyone. Ophelia loved to cook, especially with her girls, and all her grandkids. So many memories were made with her in different kitchens over the years. She loved the laughter of a full house, and was so proud of all her kids and grandkids.

She is survived by her daughters, Teresa Koenig of Pioneer; Robin Faucett and Kent Billings of Georgetown, SC; Cheryl Daniels husband, Ricky of Pioneer; Kimberly Thomas and Russell Sperry of Pioneer; 10 grandchildren, Cole Koenig and wife, Rebecca of DeLeon; Clay Koenig and wife, Denise of Seymour; Myleah McNutt and husband Byron of Cross Plains; Michael McClure and wife, China of Cross Plains; Shanda Johnson and husband, Bill of Eastland; Ricky Daniels and wife, Kati-Jo of Zimmerman, Minnesota; Jurnee Hinkle and husband, Dustin of Cross Plains; Tripp Thomas and Ketch Thomas of Pioneer; 13 great grandchildren and 1 new great-great granddaughter.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Harold Merrill; parents, George and Vivian Justice; 2 brothers, Sam and Dave Justice; sister, Martha Kay Justice; son-in-law, Lynn Koenig and grandson, Kyle McClure.