Mrs. Jaclyn Eileen Arndt Merritt, 71, of Statesville, N.C., died Friday, December 6, 2019, at the Gordon Hospice House. Born February 8, 1948 in Battle Creek, Mich., she was a daughter of the late Jack Elwood Arndt and Doris Eileen Mactavish Arndt. On September 6, 1969, she married Mr. Frank William Merritt, who survives.

Mrs. Merritt was a graduate of Lake Shore High School in Stevensville, Mich., and Michigan State University, where she earned  with a Bachelor of Music Education. She retired as a band director in public education. She then moved to the Holiday Inn of Statesville as manager and travelled extensively for the Shaner Hotel Group. She retired in 2009 from that career.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, Greg Merritt of Statesville; two daughters, Abigail Merritt of Statesville and Katherine Merritt Ervin (Brandon) of Calera, Ala. Also surviving are a brother, David Mactavish (Linda), of Maple Park, Ill., and two sisters, Polly Arndt of San Diego, Calif. and Julie Arndt Wills (Jim) of Annapolis, Md. Additional survivors include a grandson, Ryan Ervin, and a granddaughter, Kalyn Ervin, both of Calera, Alabama.

Services celebrating Mrs. Merritt’s life will be conducted at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 13, at Nicholson Funeral Home. The family will greet friends following the service. Private burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent online to the family to www.nicholsonfunerals.com.

Memorials may be given in lieu of flowers to: The Gordon Hospice House, c/o Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625 or to the Arthritis Foundation of North Carolina, 4530 Park Rd. # 230, Charlotte, NC 28209.

Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family.