OBITUARIES

Susan Leigh Atkinson Merryman

of Pinellas Park, formerly of Silver Spring, Maryland, passed away on Oct 21, 2021 at St. Pete General Hospital. Susie was born on May 6, 1954, at St. Anthony’s Hospital, to George “Lum” and Mary Atkinson (deceased.) She grew up in Gulfport, Florida, and attended Gulfport Elementary, Disston Junior High and Boca Ciega High School. She was a property manager in Maryland, and also worked at Strosniders Ace Hardware in Silver Springs, Maryland.

Susie loved life, loved listening to both of her sons sing, loved to dance with her husband, and had an enormous love for her family.

She is survived by her loving husband of 32 years, Ron Merryman; two sons, Michael (Robin) Rowe and Robert (Sondra) Rowe; two daughters, Cynthia (Robbie) Whitmore and Josie (Marie) Merryman; two grandsons, Trent and Alex; six granddaughters, Tiffany, Allina, Cassidy, Madison, and her youngest granddaughters Samantha and Tabitha (who both lovingly referred to their Grandmother as Silly Goose); her father, Lum Atkinson; two sisters, Mary DeAngelis, Cookie (Walter) Cottrell; many nieces, nephews, cousins (two of whom she thought of as brothers, Joe Hickman of Colorado and Bobby Powell of Georgia); aunts and uncles sprinkled around the country; friends Janet Weiner, Lynn Howser (who introduced Susie to Ron), Debbie and Ernie Reams; and Susie’s lifetime best friend, Beverly Thompson Jerger.

The family would like to thank the wonderful nurses in the Med/Surg unit of St. Pete General for their care and compassion; it did not go unnoticed.

Susie will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.