Merna Grigsby

Merna Slee Grigsby, 94, of Cape Girardeau passed away peacefully Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, at Saxony Village.

She was born Oct. 14, 1928, to William and Maggie Tyner of Sugartree Ridge, Missouri. She was the eldest of three daughters. Her father passed away when she was 6 years old, and she worked very hard to help her mother with her younger sisters. She graduated from East Prairie (Missouri) High School and went on to Southeast Missouri State University, after teaching a few years in East Prairie.

Merna married Kenneth Grigsby on March 5, 1947, and they were together until he preceded her in death July 29, 2017.

She worked for the Missouri Division of Social Welfare until 1998, retiring as an area supervisor.

Merna enjoyed cooking, feeding birds and helping her husband with his flowers and gardening. She also loved the color red, which she wore frequently.

She was a member of Hobbs Chapel United Methodist Church until 2021, where she was a greeter. She was a favorite cook there for pot luck dinners.

Survivors include a son, Kenneth Grigsby of San Jose, California, and his wife, Mary Linda King; nieces, Connie (Jim) Owens of Lebanon, Tennessee, Sheila (Scott) Reed of Wildwood, Missouri, Debbi (Bruce) Brader of Eureka, Missouri, Myra (Bill) Massey of Phoenix, LaDonna (Roger) Aday of Sikeston, Missouri, Geralyn Grigsby of Cape Girardeau and Charlotte (David) Hogendobler of East Prairie.

Merna was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Grigsby, and sisters, Corrine Turner and Bonnie Jackson.

Visitation will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, at Ford and Sons Funeral Home, 1001 N. Mount Auburn Road in Cape Girardeau.

Funeral service will follow at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, at the funeral home, with the Rev. Stan Hargis officiating. Entombment will follow at Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum in Cape Girardeau.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Alzheimer's Association.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.