Annie Merle Trent

On Friday, December 28, 2018, Annie Merle Trent, mother, grandmother, and friend,  finished her journey in this life, which spanned 101 years.  A celebration of her life will be held on Sunday, January 6, 2019, at 1:30 p.m. in the Elm Street Church of Christ, 216 W. Elm, Coleman, with Bob Martin, pulpit minister, officiating.  Interment will follow in the Coleman City Cemetery where she will be laid to rest next to her first husband, Lee Gray.  Services are under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home, Coleman.

She was born Annie Merle Walker on August 14, 1917, in Burkett,  the daughter of Melvin Walker and Gladys Burkett Walker.  She was the oldest of seven children,  which included six brothers, one  who died as a baby.  Annie Merle grew up in Coleman County and attended school at Burkett as well as in Mineral Wells where she lived with her aunt for a short time.    In 1933 she married Lee Gray and he preceded her in death in 1976.  In 1981 she married H. O. Trent and he died in 1995.  While she was married to Lee, they lived in Abilene, Brownwood and San Angelo before returning to live in Coleman.  While living in Brownwood and San Angelo she worked for drying cleaning establishments.  She later worked as a private duty nurse.   She was a member of Elm Street Church of Christ.

For several years, her family hosted a birthday party for her in August, at the Section Hand Restaurant, in Brownwood.  Annie Merle enjoyed these gatherings and there were usually 60 to 70 family members that attended.  She was blessed with a long life and a loving family.

Survivors include two children, Lavada Burkey of Coleman and Dan Gray and wife Claudia of San Angelo; 19 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Ann Collins;  two sons, Dean Gray and Glen Gray;  five brothers, one sister and two grandchildren, Johnny Gray and Donna Davis.

Pallbearers will be four grandsons, Steve Collins, Scott Collins, Kent Collins, Donald Gray and two great-grandsons, Jeremy Gaime and Matt Viles.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 5, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Stevens Funeral Home, 400 W. Pecan Street, Coleman, Texas.

Please leave condolences and memories for the family at www.livingmemorials.c