Ida Mae Wallace, 63, was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri to the union of the late Paul and Lula Merritt. Our beloved passed peacefully the early morning of February 22, 2018 at the Saint Luke's Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri. Ida was preceded in death by her siblings, Paul Merritt and Sally Hardy; and lifelong friend, Christine McCullough-Temple.

Ida graduated from Lincoln High School c/o 1973 in Kansas City, Missouri. She excelled in academics and was her Senior Class Vice President, a Junior Class Cabinet Member, a Majorette and a Student Council Member. As she continued her Lincoln Pride, she also held a position with Lincoln High/R.T. Coles National Alumni Association as a Treasure and Financial Secretary.

Ida was the founder of The Merritt Group, a Sr. Accountant for Saint Luke's Health Ventures, a Real Estate agent for Reece and Nichols, and was also employed for many years at Woodley Building Maintenance. In her spare time she loved supporting and spending time with her family, singing, dancing, online shopping, researching new business ventures and working on her properties. She was a problem solver with a heart of gold and the go-to-girl for advice, inspiration, business ideas or just someone to talk to. She was definitely a woman with many hats.

She leaves to cherish her memory: two children, Nichole Merritt of Grandview, MO and James Conway (Tammy) of Kansas City, MO; four grandchildren, Dylan Merritt, Deon Merritt, Marlon Smart and Jaliyah Conway; one great granddaughter, Lyric Merritt; two nephews, Michael Henderson and Adam Hardy; one niece, Brionna Henderson and a host of other family and friends.