Merry Etling, FNP

Merry June Fowler Etling, 65 graduated to her heavenly mansion on January 6, 2021, with her husband of 43 years and her son holding her hands.

The informal celebration of her life and graduation ceremony will be held at Salem Church 2269 Seven Mile Ferry Rd, Clarksville TN, on January 9, 2021, at noon. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. Her first cousin, Pastor Robert “Bob” S. Herndon, and Pastor Larry King will officiate.
Merry left written instructions that her mortal remains were to be interred at Salem Cemetery next to her parents in a simple pine casket before the next day’s sunset. Merry’s wishes were honored.

Merry June Fowler was born February 19, 1955 in Augusta, Ga to the late Merry June Fain Fowler (June) and James Thornton Fowler (Jim), Sr. She is survived by her husband of 43 years William Harold Etling; her children William Jamin Etling (Jamin) and James Isaac Etling (LeAnn); and her grandchildren: Charity Faith Etling, Caleb James Etling, Christian Nathaniel Etling and Hannah Raines Etling; and her younger brother James (Jay) Thornton Fowler, Jr and her sister-in-law Beth Fowler.

In addition to her parents, Merry June was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents Dorothy Wall Fowler and Slayton Grimes Fowler and her maternal grandparents Merry June Fain and William Robert Fain, Jr.

Merry Fowler Etling dedicated her life to caring for others as a nurse and continued her education to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. While healthcare was her career and income, she was equally involved in church ministries visiting the sick, nursing homes, parish nurse, choir, youth group, home school support groups etc.
In 2005 Merry, Harold, and Jamin moved to their ancestral home of Clarksville TN, where there is family everywhere. She enjoyed being able to spend time with her parents, grandmother Dattee, cousins, and friends. Merry was blessed to get a job at Vanderbilt UCHS where she was able to have a small clinic where she could provide high quality family practice care.
Merry enjoyed teaching Sunday school, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, cookouts with friends, reading, and, most of all, spending time with her grandchildren. She also enjoyed genealogy and was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

1976 Gateway Memorial Hospital Mens Floor Charge Nurse while living across the street with her beloved Grandmother Dorothy Dattee Fowler who lived to be over 100.

1981 Moved back to Charlotte NC with her husband and worked part time so a parent was always in the home.

1991 Nalle Clinic worked specializing in Family Practice and Geriatrics. Dr. Maria Iruela was her mentor and helped setup the solid foundation for her career as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

2000 UNCC M.S.N Family Nurse Practitioner and a National Health Service Corps Scholar
Bland County Medical Clinic provided one of her most memorable lifelong experience.

Working in a rural clinic providing complete care from birth to grave, occupational health, school physicals, and women’s health. Tele Specialty was still in its infancy and she enjoyed the challenge, and the fact patients could avoid the 3+hr drives. She enjoyed being able to do home visits for homebound and hospice patients. She was actively involved in the community in any aspect she could from public speaking to groups and schools on health issues and sounding the alarm on the oxycontin opioid genocide. Merry, Harold, and Jamin worked together on the local volunteer rescue squad/EMS. Merry and Harold even took the EMS classes Jamin taught to gain additional EMS licenses. James Isaac went to high school in Bland until he joined the Navy as Nuclear Reactor Operator.

Online condolences may be made at www.Navefuneralhomes.com