Loretto L. "Lovie" Meriwether

LORETTO LOVE MERIWETHER, beloved wife of Captain Gordon K. Meriwether, Jr., USN, passed away peacefully at Azalea Trace in Pensacola, Florida on April 11, 2026. “Lovie” was born in Baltimore, Maryland on April 23,1926. She was a devout Catholic, who lived her faith until the end.

She was proud of being a 5th generation Baltimorean or as she called herself “A Tough Broad from Baltimore”. After graduating from Seton High School, Lovie worked as a secretary in the civil service in Baltimore. Lovie met her “southern gentleman”, Gordon, at the Naval Academy and soon garnered Drag of the Year honors. They married at the chapel there in 1947. Lovie was proud to serve in her role as a Navy wife, as they journeyed together on many tours, until they returned to Gordon’s hometown of Montgomery, Alabama in1955, where they raised their (4) children.

In 1970, Gordon returned to the Active Duty in the Navy and the couple found themselves in Chicago, IL. and then onto Washington, D.C. They retired in 1981 and returned to “the Bay” in Josephine, Alabama to build their Gull House. During retirement, Lovie received her BA in Library Science from Huntington College. She volunteered at the Naval Museum in Pensacola, FL. for many years. Gordon and Lovie left the bay in 2000 to move to Azalea Trace Retirement Community in Pensacola Florida, where they spent many happy years making new friends and reconnecting with old ones.

Her love for travel was proudly passed on to her grandchildren, by taking each one of them on a “Mema Trip” anywhere in the world they wanted to travel – from Europe to Africa to Australia to Japan. She was often called the “Queen” as she related to Queen Elizabeth II, who was born a few days before her, married a naval officer and had (4) children.

Lovie was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Gordon, her parents Harvey and Loretto Love, her sisters Mary Lee and Julie Anne and her brother Harvey. Lovie is survived by her children Captain (USNR-Retired) Gordon Meriwether III (Dana) of Harrisonburg, Va., Kitty Schaum (Bob) of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Neal Meriwether (Jan) of Asheville, North Carolina, and Julie Schmid (Lou) of Galveston, Texas.

She was most proud of her (9) grandchildren- Mercedes, Emily, Troy, Sarah, Julie, Maria, Drew, Dan and Catherine. AND her (14) great grandchildren – Norborne, Tilly, Abby, Stephen, Marlo, Lilian, Emmett, Mercedes, Harlan, Jonathan, Josie, Axton, Callum and Colton.

Lovie is finally going home to be with her true love, Gordon, and will leave behind many happy memories for her family and friends to cherish. “Everyone loves Lovie.”

The family would like to thank the amazing staff at Azalea Trace who supported and loved our mom, they know who they are. Also, we would like to thank Hospice for their guidance and support through this difficult time.

Services will be held at- Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church 9945 Hillview Dr, Pensacola, FL 32514 @ 10:00 a.m. Burial to follow at Barrancus National Cemetery.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers please make a donation of your choice to :

Azalea Trace Heritage Fund Emerald Coast Hospice Little Sisters of the Poor

“When I’m An old woman I shall wear purple…” Jenny Joseph