Merle Unruh

The services celebrating and honoring the life of Merle Unruh will be held 11:00 A.M. Thursday August 29, 2024 in the Brown-Cummings Chapel. Burial will follow in the Covington Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Brown-Cummings, A life celebration Home.

Bessie Merle Cunningham Dahlin Unruh passed away Sunday August 25th, 2024 in Fort Worth, Texas. Born June 22,1934 in Enid, Oklahoma arrived 10 minutes before her twin sister, Jessie Marie, to the parents of Ira and Frances Cunningham. Merle grew up in Enid with her twin sister and had six other siblings.

Merle attended Adams Elementary, Longfellow Junior High, and Enid High School. While in school Merle enjoyed Spelling and Chorus. During Junior and Senior years in High School Merle worked as a telephone operator at Bell Telephone Company with her twin sister, Marie. She graduated from  Enid High School in May 1953.

Merle married Regis (Rex) Dahlin on September 25, 1953 in Enid. They had three daughters; Teresa, Cathy, and Linda. Merle loved being able to be home for their girls and a homemaker. When they were attending Waller Junior High Merle worked in the cafeteria. As years went on Merle worked at Raleigh Bicycle Plant when they began in 1973 until they closed in April 1977. Later in her life she was a caregiver for several families.

Merle married Paul Unruh on October 25, 1997 in Enid. After  Paul’s death in 2013, Merle moved to Fort Worth, Texas in 2014 to live with family.

Merle loved  the Lord and was a grateful soul, being blessed the life God had given her to live. Merle had a caring heart full of love for her family and friends.

Merle is survived by her daughters, Teresa Ross and husband James of Weatherford,  Texas, Cathy Machuca and husband Raul of Fort Worth, Texas, and Linda Rehder and husband Billy of Enid, Oklahoma. Four grandchildren Jason Ross and wife Jennifer of Conroe, Texas, Alison Ceric and husband Vedran of Fort Worth, Texas, and Courtney and Jeremy Machuca of Fort Worth, Texas. One great-granddaughter Mila Ceric and one great-grandson Leo Ceric. Three step grandchildren and nine step great-grandchildren. Step children; Evelyn Lozier, Alice Miller, Carol Snowden, Lois Grimshaw, Anita Hatfield, Naomi Cain, Teresa Butler, Keith Unruh, Eric Unruh, and Clifford Unruh. Merle is survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins she loved very deeply.

Merle was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Unruh, parents Ira and Frances Cunningham, brothers Coy, Ira Jr, Leroy, Gordon, and sisters Almeda Grassman, Myrtie Cline, and Jessie Marie Barnum.

Funeral services will be held at Brown-Cummings Funeral Home Chapel