- Date Of Birth: January 6, 1931
- Date Of Death: November 22, 2022
- State: Florida
Merle Kingsland Bixby passed away on November 22, 2022, at the age of 91.
Born on January 6, 1931, to Harold and Lucy Kingsland in Hartford, Connecticut, Merle grew up in Glastonbury, Connecticut. In 1964, Fort Walton Beach, FL became home for Merle’s family.
Merle loved nature and being outdoors. She observed the world through an artist’s eyes.
As an award-winning fine artist, painting in oils, pastels, and watercolors, Merle especially enjoyed painting portraits, painting her first at age 16. With a curious and creative mind, Merle loved reading, writing, playing piano, sewing, knitting, and working crossword puzzles. She focused her love of problem-solving and history on genealogy and traced her New England ancestors back to the 1600’s. She was very patriotic. She relished Fourth of July fireworks and proudly displayed the American flag at her home.
Merle was an athlete. She was an avid golfer (two holes-in-one!) and loved to sail, hike, water ski, snow ski, and dance. She rode her bike 5 miles a day well into her eighties. Merle savored a cup of hot tea every afternoon.
She was a dedicated member of many organizations, including the Krewe of Bowlegs for several years, the Fort Walton Beach Ladies Golf Association for 50 years, the Fort Walton Yacht Club for close to 60 years, and was an auxiliary volunteer at the Fort Walton Beach Medical Center for over 25 years.
Merle and her former husband, Richard Bixby, owned and operated two restaurants – The Ponderosa Steak Barn and The Captain’s Table.
Merle is predeceased by her 3 siblings, Kenneth Kingsland, June Hart, and Shirley Shipley. She is survived by four daughters, Jane (Douglass) Grimmett, Nancy (Michael) DeSousa, Suzanne Ullmann, and Pamela (Randall) Kemp; six grandchildren, Andrew Grimmett, Allison Grimmett (Jared Hickman), Katherine Ullmann (Trenten Oliver), Alexander Ullmann (Hillary), Charlotte Rosenthal (Andrew), and Daniel DeSousa; five great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Merle lived a very full life. She will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts.
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