#Janet Louise Hippensteel Merrill

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Janet Louise Merrill, BJU Class of 1959.

Janet Louise Hippensteel Merrill was born in South Bend, Indiana, on August 20, 1937, and died in Dallas, Texas, on December 10, 2023. She was the youngest of five children and the only daughter of Harland Virgil Hippensteel, Sr., and Irma Edna McConnell. She married Eugene Haines Merrill on December 18, 1960. Their only child, Sonya Leigh Merrill, was born 10 years later.

Janet's life was characterized by excellence, authentic love and faithfulness.

Janet strove for excellence in all things. She believed in ""doing all for the glory of God,"" and that meant doing everything to the best of her abilities. She was multitalented; her gifts ranged from playing the piano and organ to designing and decorating the family's Japanese-style home. She was a woman of culture who appreciated excellence in the arts.

She was a longtime Stradivarius Patron of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra as well as a supporter of several museums. She loved to travel and visited all 50 states as well as 57 countries. In the last year of her life, although she was wheelchair-bound, she, Eugene and Sonya journeyed to the Cayman Islands, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy and Tunisia and maintained the highest frequent flyer status with two of the three major US airlines.

While Janet had many talents and interests, her vocation was that of education, and like everything else, she pursued it with excellence.

She attended Bob Jones University in South Carolina where she studied education; it was there that she met Eugene. She then earned her master's degree at the University of Notre Dame, enrolling in the first class of women admitted to this previously all-male institution. In the late 1960s she completed her doctorate in education at Columbia University in New York City.

Janet went on to have a distinguished academic career; after moving to Dallas in 1975, she taught first at Southern Methodist University and then at Dallas Baptist University. She impacted thousands of students during those years. She also had a private counseling practice working with children, adolescents and young adults.

Janet's commitment to excellence spilled over into all her relationships. She loved people authentically and sacrificially. She gave her time and energy to build up others, most especially Eugene and Sonya. Eugene is sure he would not have finished his second PhD and achieved the success he has had in his own academic career if it were not for Janet's constant support and encouragement. She instilled in Sonya the love of learning and made sure she got the best possible education; she also helped her set up her medical practice in 2007. Janet cared deeply about her extended family. She adored her big brothers and their many children.

She was a true friend who kept in touch with people from every stage of her life. She was remarkable in her ability to connect with a surprising variety of people in deep and impactful ways.

Janet pursued excellence with all her might and loved others authentically and sacrificially because she was a woman of strong faith.

She placed her trust in Jesus Christ at the age of 10. Her love for Jesus compelled her to share His truth with others. As a child she was inspired by missionaries who visited her church, and this commitment to missions never waned. She believed in the power of medical missions and led 8 medical teams to India between 1999 and 2012.

She and Eugene also went on several teaching missions to Brazil, Russia and Ukraine.

In recent years, Janet experienced the challenge of physical disability, but her faith was stronger than ever.

It is the certain knowledge that she is perfectly whole in her heavenly home, reunited with her parents and others she loved, that gives Eugene and Sonya the peace and courage that sustain them.

Great, indeed is God's faithfulness to her, but also great was Janet's faithfulness to Him.

Janet is survived by her husband, Eugene; her daughter, Sonya; 19 nephews and nieces; and many great-nephews and great-nieces.

She was buried on December 16, 2023, in North Manchester, Indiana.

A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church Dallas in late January with Dr. O.S. Hawkins officiating. Donations may be made in Janet's memory to Bangalore Baptist Hospital via Samaritan Medical Outreach Ministries(samaritanmedicalout reach.org), Bob Jones University Division of Music General Fund (music.bju.edu/give) and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra (dallassymphony.org/donate/i/ tributegift).