Obituary of Lorraine Browning Merrill

WEAVERVILLE – Lorraine Browning Merrill, age 93, of Weaverville died Tuesday, June 21, 2022.

Mrs. Merrill was born October 27, 1928, in Buncombe County to the late Henry & Mintie Morrison Browning; she had lived in Buncombe County all her life. Lorraine graduated from Weaverville High School and attended Cecil’s Business College. She was a lifetime member of First Baptist Church, Weaverville. She was formerly employed at Asheville-Citizen Times and later the Presbyterian Journal.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, E.V. Merrill to whom she was married 63 years; sister, Frances Browning Pegg; brothers, Howard, Lloyd, and Richard “Rip” Browning.

Surviving are her son, Ray Merrill and wife Linda; sister, Barbara Higgins; grandchildren, Jason Merrill and wife Sarah and Jared Merrill and wife Jillian; great grandchildren, Lucy, Landon, Ian, and Ava and several nieces and nephews.

Her funeral service will be held 2:30 p.m., Sunday, June 26, 2022, in the Chapel of West Funeral Home with Rev. Dr. Jim McCoy officiating. Burial will follow in Ashelawn Gardens of Memory, Asheville.

The family will receive friends 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. prior to the funeral on Sunday.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Weaverville, PO Box 547, Weaverville, NC 28787 or a charity of your choice.

For those who desire, condolences may be offered to the family under Mrs. Merrill’s obituary at www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com.