Clara Deanna (Merritt) May

Clara Deanna Merritt May, age 86 of Martin, Ky, wife of the late Merle M. May passed away on Sunday January 11, 2026 at her residence. She was born on January 30, 1939 in Emma, Ky, the eldest daughter to the late Dean R. and Wilma Agnes “Billie” Leslie Merritt.

She is survived by two daughters: Leslie Ann May (Ken) Swan and Joyce May Sizemore of Martin, Ky. Grandchildren: Stephanie (Brian) Wallace, Shannon (Nate) Birkhead, Rory (Carrie) Patton, Alex (Lace) Patton, Dane Sizemore and Ashton Sizemore. Great grandchildren: Kateland McDonald, Nicholas McDonald, Connor (Lauren) Kute, Ethan, Emma, Eli and Everett Birkhead, Reece and Paula Patton, Ava and Kane Patton and Emmy Sizemore. Great-great grandchildren: Kayden Romans, Hadlee and Cecilia Meade, and Brynlee McDonald. Surviving siblings are Rhonda Howard, Delores Leslie Reichenbach and Curtis Merritt.

Deanna was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, daughter LaDonna Rose Patton, grandson Brandon Merle Nicholas Sizemore, two brothers John David and Robert Taylor Merritt and her son-in-law Steven Terry Sizemore.

She was a member of St. Martha Catholic Church in which she assisted with the CCD program and vacation bible school for many years. Earlier in life she was a homemaker raising her three daughters. Later in life she was employed by First Commonwealth Bank at Martin for 15 years, making a lot of wonderful friends while employed.

She was a proud supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Father Flanagan’s Boys Home, American Heart Association, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and Alice Lloyd College.

Visitation will be held at Hall Funeral Home in Martin from 6 until 10 p.m. Tuesday, January 13 and from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m., Wednesday, January 14.

Funeral service will be conducted Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 12 noon at the St. Martha Catholic Church, Prestonsburg, KY. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the time of service Thursday at the church.

Her final resting place will be Richmond Cemetery in Prestonsburg, Ky.

The guestbook may be signed at www.hallfuneralservice.com

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