Merri Easterly

Merri Richards Easterly was born September 26, 1940, in Ingleside, Texas and died May 20, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. Services: There will be a visitation at Wade Family Funeral Home, 4140 W. Pioneer Pkwy, Arlington TX, on Wednesday, May 24, 2017, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and a Celebration of Life at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1200 West Green Oaks Blvd, Arlington, TX, on Thursday, May 25, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. Merri was a dedicated wife and mother who devoted herself to the service of others. Her premature departure leaves a huge hole in our hearts and in the community she served. Merri's servant leadership was witnessed in both her political career as well as her Christian faith. Her political career spanned 30 years of involvement in the Republican Party and encompassed roles as campaign manager for various candidates, Executive Director - Harris County Republican Party, Precinct Chair - Harris County, Delegate to Precinct - Senatorial District & State Conventions, and Delegate to the Republican National Convention. Merri also held numerous Board positions for Texas Federation of Republican Women and also served as the President of Reagan Legacy Republican Women. At the time of her death she was serving as State Republican Executive Committeewoman for Senate District 10, as a member of the Board of Meals on Wheels of Tarrant County, as Lay Leader of Trinity United Methodist Church, and as a member of the Board of the Trinity Sports Foundation. Merri was a “Tribute to Women” honoree of the Republican Party of Texas 4 times and was also named as one of “Ten Outstanding Republican Women” in 1999. She loved her grandsons Cooper and Casey and in 2006 Merri and her husband Dan relocated from the Houston area to Arlington so they could be closer to them as they grew up. Merri cherished her time working with her church family at Trinity United Methodist Church. She also loved her trips to Ingleside, TX, to visit with her life-long friends from High School. Merri was preceded in death by her father and mother, J.G. and Alice Richards, her brother, Richard (Dick) Richards, and her sister, Jody Richards. Survivors: She is survived by her husband, Daniel L. Easterly, her daughters, R. Lyn Flynn (Scott), and Susan Williams (Willi), her grandsons, Cooper Flynn and Casey Flynn, her sister-in-law, Sally Langley (Richards), and nieces, Erin Richards Grim and Leslie Richards Blaine. Wade Family Funeral Home (817) 274-9233