a gem of a lady
Story by Susan O'Connor, Photo by Dero Sanford

When Dorothy Merritt began crafting jewelry last year, the object was to pass the time. Her husband was ill and the couple had recently made a move to an assisted living environment. Life as she knew it had changed.

But now, the fruits of what began as a hobby have become popular with residents of her home, Culpepper Place, as well as other friends and family. Merritt gives each new resident a bracelet as a welcome gift, and her jewelry finds its way into the weekly bingo prizes. All the women in her family received jewelry as Christmas gifts.

“I don’t have a bundle of money, because I have a bundle of money in beads,” she said with a wry smile. “I don’t like to charge for my jewelry, but I have to charge enough to buy more beads.”

Will she go public with her designs?

“My friends have urged me to sell my jewelry in local boutiques,” the 83-year-old said. “I have not seriously considered it. I am seriously considering selling online.”

Those who know Merritt’s story would not be surprised to find her active at this stage of life. She is a woman who has pursued many goals and dreams. She is a real go-getter. She is also web savvy and young at heart.

Merritt was born in Greene County, but grew up in the bootheel of Missouri.
In 1959, inspired by her brother who holds a doctorate in geological engineering, Merritt began college classes at Arkansas State University. “Families have to pull themselves up by their bootstraps,” he told her.
A mother of four, Merritt received a degree in elementary education in December 1961 and taught at Hillcrest Elementary School in Jonesboro. In 1964, she began work on her master’s degree and ultimately earned a specialist degree in educational administration.

She began a career with Head Start in 1965 as a program designer and manager, and later served as a financial consultant for the entity.

In 1979 following a divorce, and with all her children raised, Merritt moved to Colorado and bought Fantastic Sam’s franchises along with her brother. After the sale of the business, she went to real estate school. “I got my broker’s license on the first try,” she said proudly. “I’ve done a lot of things in my day.”
During the years in Colorado, Merritt lived in Boulder, Aurora, Denver and Ft. Collins. “I loved Colorado,” she said. “I like the dryness of the air and the sky is so blue.”

She returned to Arkansas in 1986 and moved to Culpepper Place one year ago.

Where do you buy your beads? Wal-Mart and Hobby Lobby. When I go to buy beads, I spend a lot of time and I look and buy what appeals to me.

Where do you get the inspiration for your designs? My inspiration comes from within. It comes from my family and from the many friends I am fortunate to have.

Do your children and grandchildren wear your pieces? Yes. They wear my pieces proudly.

Do you ever use the Internet to make purchases? I shop online frequently.

What is the last book you read?The last book I read was either one of John Grisham’s many books, or “Memoirs of a Geisha.” I am now listening to “Don’t Know Much About History,” which is a series of DVDs by Kenneth C. Davis.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? I would choose Wales or Ireland. If I went to one of those places, I would surely go to the other. I would do some genealogy research. My mother’s ancestors are from Wales and Ireland. Their names are Cameron and Griffith.