Merilyn Ryfle South

Merilyn Ryfle South September 30, 1919 - January 16, 2008 Mrs. Jeff J. Merilyn South of Waco passed away Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at Ridgecrest Retirement and Health Care. Graveside services will be at 2:00 p.m. Monday, January 21, at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Sunday, January 20, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey. Mrs. South was born September 30, 1919 in Waco, TX to Pauline Hesser and Oscar Alexander Ryfle. Her father was one of the individuals who pioneered the first interurban between Waco and Dallas. Merilyn grew up mainly in Ft. Worth, where she attended Paschal High School and Texas Christian University. She met her future husband in Ft. Worth, and discovered he also was born in Waco. She was born on Washington Ave. and Jeff was born on North 12th St. Their son, Jeff J.Trey South, III was born in Ft. Worth in March of 1948. The Souths moved to Waco in Sept. of 1948 and bought the MacDonald Co., which was a card and stationery shop on N. 6th in the Liberty Bldg. across from the side door of Goldstein Migel. Several years later the shop moved to the first strip mall opened in Waco, on 25th St. and the name was changed and Souths Gift Shoppe was born. Five years later when the Lake Air Mall opened, Souths was one of the first stores to open in the new mall. After 8 years at that location, the shop moved up on the hill to the intersection of Hillcrest and MacArthur Dr. and was known as THE gift shop for the city. The store was open at this location until it closed in 1973. She worked for a number of years in the wholesale business in the World Trade Center. Merilyn loved to travel and made many trips with her brothers and their wives. She also was an avid hound for knowledge and took many elective courses at both MCC and TSTI, including pilot training, horticulture, furniture upholstery, computer, music and many years in pottery at MCC, where her son was head of the pottery dept. She was a book worm and always had a current book by her bedside. In her later years she started doing watercolor painting and enjoyed several years as an amateur artist. She also was a marvelous cook and collected cookbooks as a hobby. She loved animals and there was always a dog in her home. She was a member of the board of Earl Napier Kinnard House, a member of the Central Texas Watercolor Society and a past member of the League of Women Voters. Mrs. South was preceded in death by her husband, Jeff who passed away in 1986. Surviving members of her family include son, Trey and Carol South; sister, Ms. Carolyne English of Dallas, TX; brothers, Al and Marilyn Ryfle of Carlsbad, CA; and Jack and Shirley Ryfle of Austin, TX. Honorary pallbearers are Reg Baldwin, Butch Williams, Steven Alexander, Steve Massey, John Herbert and David Griffiths. The family would like to thank the nurses and care givers at Ridgecrest Retirement Center and especially Michelle from Providence Hospice for the love, care and compassion they gave Merilyn in her final months. Memorials may be made to Fuzzy Friends Rescue or Waco Historical Society. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our Memorial Guestbook at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey