Helen Joyce Merritt, age 83 of Warner Robins, Georgia and formerly of Elwood, passed away Thursday, January 5, 2017 at the Warner Robins Rehabilitation Center in Warner Robins following a brief illness.  She was born on January 15, 1933 in Elwood, the daughter of Harry and Edna (Trick) Tyner.  Helen retired from Continental Can Corporation in Elwood in 1979 after 20 years of service working in the business office and as a switchboard operator.  She was a 1951 graduate of Wendell Willkie High School, and later attended Ball State College in Muncie.  As a young person, she was a member of East Main Street Christian Church in Elwood.  She married Gary "Don" Merritt on July 18, 1970 and they shared over 42 years of marriage together prior to his passing in 2012.  Helen enjoyed shopping, traveling, working in her yard, and caring for her home.  She also formerly enjoyed sewing and making dolls.

Helen's family includes daughter-in-law and caretaker, Rhonda K. Carpenter of Warner Robins, GA and formerly of Elwood; 2 sisters-in-law, Raeanna Merritt of Elwood and Dorothy Allen of Cincinnati, OH; brother-in-law, Larry "Dan" (wife Martha) Merritt of Diamond Bar, CA; step-grandson, Todd (wife Ann Marie) Adams of Kokomo; great-niece, Melissa Curtis of Texas; and great-nephew, Ryan Curtis of Texas.  She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Gary "Don" Merritt in 2012; son, Robert "Bob" Carpenter in 2014; and sister, Mary Louise Tyner-Curtis in 2013.

A funeral service celebrating Helen's life will be conducted at 1:00 PM on Friday, January 13, 2017 at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home in Elwood with Rev. Roger Gardner of East Main Street Christian Church officiating.  Burial will follow in the Elwood City Cemetery.  Visitation for family and friends will be held from Noon to 1:00 PM on Friday prior to the funeral service at the funeral home.  Memorial contributions may be made to St. Vincent Mercy Hospital Foundation or the Elwood Parks Department through the funeral home.  Online expressions of condolence may be made at copherfeslermay.com.