Merri Ann Fox, 65, of Columbus passed away on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at
Ascension St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. She was born on December 25,
1960, in Greensburg, Indiana, the daughter of Harry Hempstead and Marilyn Kay
(Reed) Hempstead Burton. Merri grew up in Decatur County and was a 1979 graduate
of South Decatur High School. She moved to Columbus in 2001 and was a member of
The Ridge. She was an operations manager at AVI Food Systems. Merri enjoyed
gardening, flowers, being in the pool, watching soap operas, and spending time
with her family. She married William “Bill” Fox on May 24, 1995, in North Vernon
and he survives. Other survivors include her daughters, Amanda Krebbs and
Amberlyn Crouch both of Columbus and Amilee Fugate of Greensburg; sisters,
Roxanna (Bart) Metz of Greensburg, Treasa Hempstead, Tracy Faris and Katie
Hempstead all of Greensburg; brothers, Mike Hempstead and Gary Hempstead both of
Greensburg and Doug (Jessica) Burton of Glenwood, Indiana; grandchildren,
Cristian Calvert, Shelby Ping, Ian Calvert, Cayden Fugate, Braelyn Bowen, Karter
Beasley, John Crouch, Jr., Gunnar Yorn and Remington Fugate and 2 great
grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; stepfather, Chester
Burton; sister, Debbie Hempstead; brother, Gregory Hempstead and granddaughter,
Erika Calvert. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October
28, 2026, at Bass & Gasper Funeral Home in Westport. Burial will follow at
Westport Cemetery. A time of visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 27,
2026, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Online condolences can
be made to the family at www.bassgasper.com