Merle Jean Upham, age 92, passed away Thursday, May 5, 2022, in Graham, Texas. Family visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday, May 8, 2022, at Lunn Funeral Home in Olney, Texas. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, May 9, 2022, at Restland Cemetery in Olney with Chad Edgington, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Lunn Funeral Home of Olney.

Merle Jean was born on September 26, 1929, in Electra, Texas to the late Bernard Eidson Vaught and Sarah Buell (Coskrey) Vaught. She moved to Olney in 1950 after receiving her Teacher Certification from Hardin Simmons University. She taught 2 ^nd Grade in Olney Elementary School for eighteen years. Merle Jean continued her education and received her Master's Degree in Special Education in 1978 from TWU. She then taught special education for eighteen years, retiring in 1991 after thirty-six years of service. She was an active member of the Retired Teachers Association and a fifty-year member of Delta Kappa Gamma. Merle Jean joined First Baptist Church Olney in 1950 and was a member for 72 years. She married LeRoy Upham on August 9, 1951, in Electra, Texas. He preceded her in death on November 16, 2016. She was also preceded in death by a son, Larry Upham in 2002.

Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Lynn and Robyn Upham of Las Vegas, Nevada; daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Charles Crow of Cataula, Georgia; four grandchildren: Layne Upham of Medford, Oregon, Lance Upham and wife Justina of Castle Rock, Colorado, Levi Upham and wife Monica of Visalia, California and Laura Kapolnai and husband Kazi of Las Vegas, Nevada; and seven great-grandchildren.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lunnfuneralhome.com .