Juanita Merriweather

Juanita ‘Nita’ Cleveland Merriweather, 84, passed away on November 16, 2023, surrounded by her daughters. Nita was adored by her family and friends, who have countless stories of her generosity and kindness. People from all points of her life described Nita as their best friend or second mother. Nita was born on September 7, 1939, in Sibley, IA. As a young child, she moved to Lawrence with her parents and older sister and became a life-long KU Jayhawk. Her husband Terry was a pharmacy student at KU. Nita graduated from Lawrence High in 1957 and became an art student at KU shortly before they married in 1958 at Central United Methodist Church. Among Nita's teachers at KU was the legendary Maude Ellsworth, whom she spoke of often. Nita and Terry moved to Hutchinson, KS in 1967 and raised their children there. Nita worked for 25 years as a medical librarian at Hutchinson Hospital and Terry was Director of Pharmacy for Dillons Stores until his death in 1992. In 2001, Nita moved to Dallas to be near her children and grandchildren. While in Texas, Nita maintained her strong devotion to the Jayhawks. She wrote frequent emails to the sports editor of The Dallas Morning News to complain when a big KU victory was ‘buried’ on an inside page. She was the most generous, kind, and loving person we knew, and we are grateful for her beyond measure. Nita was preceded in death by her parents Frances and Morris Cleveland, husband Terry Merriweather, and son David Merriweather. She is survived by her daughters Ruth Ann Dorrill, Sue (Roger) Parks, and Sarah (Patrice Lyke) Merriweather; sister Margie Cleveland Kehrberg; and grandchildren, great-grandchildren, much-loved nieces and nephews, and innumerable family and friends. A memorial service and reception will take place in the chapel at Good Samaritan Society Denton Village, 2500 Hinkle Dr., Denton, TX 76201 on Saturday, December 16 at 2PM CST. A burial service will be held in Hutchinson at a later date. Donations in Nita's remembrance may be made to the Terry L. Merriweather Memorial Scholarship at the KU School of Pharmacy at P.O. Box 928, Lawrence, KS 66044 or www.kuendowment.org/givenow.