Mrs. Merle Anne Richey Bean, 102, of Flowery Branch, Ga., passed away on Monday, Nov. 28, 2011. She was the widow of Zealand Hall Bean and is survived by her daughters and son-in-law, Janet and Ronald Plumlee, Flowery Branch, Ga., and Roberta Watson, Lawrenceville, Ga.; sons and daughters-in-law, Donald George, Peoria, Ill., Douglas and Diane Bean, Montrose, Colo., Jerry and Carol Bean, Cambria, Calif., and David and Jean Bean, Salt Point, N.Y.; 18 grandchildren; 51 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren. Mrs. Bean was born Feb. 5, 1909, in Los Angeles, Calif. She was a 1927 graduate of Narbonne High School in Lomita, Calif., and she attended the University of California Los Angeles as a music student. Mrs. Bean raised her six children in Southern California. She and her husband relocated to Georgia in 1978. She was a homemaker, talented crafter and an accomplished pianist and organist. As a teen, she played the piano in theaters, providing the soundtrack for silent movies and later in life, for countless weddings and senior events. She lived in Lawrenceville, Ga., for 35 years. At the age of 95, she became a graduate of the Gwinnett County Citizen's Police Academy. She was a member of the Gwinnett County Senior's Club. She was also a member of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Lawrenceville Ward. Merle had an infectious sense of humor, a sharp wit and a passion for life and those she loved. A memorial service will be held Friday, Dec. 30, 2011, at 6:30 p.m. at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 3355 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville, GA 30044. Interment will be at Forest Lawn Cemetery in California. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Me'sun Hospice, 88 Johnson Road, Lawrenceville, GA 30046 in memory of Mrs. Merle Bean. To express condolences, please sign our online guest book at www.flaniganfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by: Junior E. Flanigan of Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford, Ga., 770-932-1133