Burial will take place on Sunday, December 19, 2010, at 3:00 PM at the Mars Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Amite County near Smithdale, MS.

Mrs. Fields died on Sunday, November 28, 2010 in Eagle Rock, CA, where she had lived near her daughter, Lynda, since 1994. She was born September 10, 1919, in Lincoln County, MS, to George Kenna Walker and Bessie Mae Godbold Walker. She was a graduate of Mars Hill High School, Southwest Mississippi Junior College and Louisiana College.

A resident of Ferriday, LA, from 1960 to 1994, Mrs. Fields was the wife of Rev. M. H. Fields, former pastor of the Ferriday First Baptist Church. She taught elementary school during her early years and later became a district sales manager for the World Book Encyclopedia. She lived an adventurous and fulfilled life as a pastor's wife and teacher and was active in numerous church and community programs and ministries. According to Mrs. Fields, her greatest accomplishment in life was her ministry as a pastor's wife and the success of her children in their life's work and Christian witness.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband of over 50 years, M. H. Fields; her two sisters, Rita Mounger and Mary B. Parks; two brothers, Winfred Walker and Nicolas Lafayette Walker. She is survived by one remaining brother, Thomas Ray Walker of Picayune, MS.

Other survivors include her children and their spouses; Larry and Sandy Fields, Knoxville, TN, George Fields, Louisville, KY, Lynda and Jerry Houser, Salem, OR, Bruce and Nancy Fields, Gainesville, GA and her daughter-in-law, Marolyn Wright Fields of Louisville, KY. She had nine grandchildren and their spouses; Mitchell and Jennifer Fields, Louisville, KY, Michael Fields, Knoxville, TN, Heather and Eric Stern, Maplewood, NJ, John and Allison Fields, Knoxville, TN, Daniel Fields, Oakwood, GA, Graham and Michelle Houser, Portland, OR, Lydia Fields, Atlanta, GA, Rebecca Houser, Portland, OR, and Andrew Fields, Gainesville, GA. She is also survived by eight great grandchildren; Madeline Stern, Benjamin Fields, Jake Fields, Zachary Stern, Evelyn Fields, Sarah Hazel Fields, Emma Grace Fields and Cameron Walker Fields.

The family wishes to thank the staff and caregivers at Mountview Retirement Residence, Montrose, CA, J & L Manor, Eagle Rock, CA and Vitas Hospice, Encino, CA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts in her memory be made to the First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 386, Ferriday, LA, 71334 or the Mars Hill Baptist Church, 6145 North Greensburg Rd., Summit, MS, 39666

I have known and appreciated Merle since our days at Louisiana College. She always had a winning smile and an outgoing, congenial personality. Best of all, she was a thoroughly fine person. She will live on in her large and still growing family. She made the world a little better place!

Wilmer C. Fields
wilcfields@aol.com

NO wonder her daughter is so beautiful. Mom was; and she made and nurtured you. I love you, Lyndsey. Pastor Gail

Gail McDougle
gail@uccsalem.org

What a lovely tribute.

Anina Minotto
aminotto@aol.com

Lyndsey, Bruce, and family: Please know that you continue to be in our thoughts and prayers. Special blessings to you as you gather next week to love each other and celebrate the life of your mother. May Christmas be filled with those memories of her that truly make your heart sing. --The Lovetts

Kathy and Lee Lovett
williamllovett@bellsouth.net

Lyndsey, this is a beautiful tribute to your mother. I wish I could have met her. She must have been great (to "produce" you) and I'm sure you are missing her. Grace and peace to you. Love, Shaula

ShaulaCoulson
shaulakoala@aol.com

My love and prayers are with you as you celebrate the life of your dear mother

Mary Jane Savage
Maryjdance@aol.com

What a tribute, she was loved by all who met her and what wonderful memories we have of wonderful times together.
We will see you at the funeral.
Don and Eva Deil

Don and Eva Deil Mabry
donandevad@aol.com

Another memory I have of Aunt Merle, Daddy, Mother Barbre and I went to visit her in Missippi when Uncle M.H. was overseas. She had a convertible( I thouhgt that was the coolest car)she drove us all over. She and Mother giggled right along with us. That evening late the gals decided to go to the Drive-In Theatre...we left Daddy with Larry and George( the Katzenjammer kids) I don't think Daddy ever knew we were gone. He let those two do whatever they wanted to. FUN FUN!!! We had the "bestest" time. Joy

Joy Fields Derrick
jgarnet34@aol.com

We are thanking God for having known your mother! What a lady! I have many fond memories of her visits to Hollywood. We are also thanking God that He came to take her home while she was peacefully sleeping..."I Can Only Imagine!"
Love to you Lyndsey, Jerry and all of your family, Gary and Glenda

Gary & Glenda Grubbs
glgrubbs@yahoo.com

I am looking forward to seeing you all at the service. This is a beautiful tribute as I am sure the service will be also. I love you all. Doni

Donell M Williams
garyjhawk@gmail.com

She was truly blessed for her quick wit,caring nature, intelligence, and infectious laugh. I have such wonderful memories of her and your family. It was such an important part of my life, and I'll never forget her or you.

Jean Davis Moses
jeanmoses@bellsouth.net

It is great to put a beautifull face to the women that was so special to you and your family. Our thoughts and prays for you and the family. Your fiddler family Debbie and Hayden.

Debbie and Hayden Martinez
salonmirabella@comcast.net

Our condolences from Tillman and Gwen Houser

Tillman Houser
thousr@aol.com

When you aren't going to be at the actually service this is a nice way for people to know about a person. Thank you.

Ron & Nancy MacNair
ronan30@att.net

I wish I could have know her deeper, but the memory I do have is so sweet. Picturing Merle and my father, Irving, sitting in the pew at FBCLC giggling and carrying on like teenagers about how they were going to run away and get hitch.
Lyndsey, your mom raised a great wonderful woman that I admire so much. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the whole family. God's peace to you Janice

Janice Stephenson
Janicestep@yahoo.com

Lyndsey, I will always remember your Merle as such a dynamic, energetic person. This is a lovely memorial to her. She is no doubt up there right now assigning the other Heavenly Baptists what to bring to the next potluck. Be joyful that the Lord has called her home and that you had her with you so long.

Ann Peck McBride
donie1119@msn.com

Your mother was a beautiful and special person. I have very fond memories of her and your father. Steve and I send our love and heartfelt sympathy to all of you.

Steve & Carolyn Donelson
carolynd777@hotmail.com

Lyndsey, What a beautiful way to honor the memory of your mother. Even though I'm not sure we ever got to meet her, we loved your funny stories about the wonderful impact she had on your life. You are in our thoughts and prayers, Doug, Lisa, Julie and Jessica

Lisa Baker
harpists3@sbcglobal.net

While we did not have the opportunity to really get to know Merle, we feel we know her through her daughter Lyndsey. And so we understand some of the other comments made on this guestbook by folks who indeed knew her. Through Lyndsey we know that Merle was a compassionate and loving person, who was dedicated to her family and faith, but who also knew how to have fun in life. We send our prayers to Lyndsey and Jerry, and to the extended Fields Walker family.

John and Kathleen Donaldson
jdonaldson@cap-mpt.com

It is always a pleasure to remember our times with Merle. It is a joy to know her children and it is an honor to be part of her family

Anna Mae & Eugene & Jan Houser
genejhouser@sbcglobal.net

Dear Lyndsey, Your mother's picture is beautiful, but your word picture does even more justice to a person I'm glad to have passed this way with, even if only at a second remove.
jerry, I'm sure this is a loss for Houserhouse all, and I'm sorry to be so slow is passing on our condolences. Love, Phil and Ginny

Phil Connell
philcon555@aol.com