 Ethel Levitt, her daughter, died on August 23, 1967, of a drug overdose that was ruled accidental.Her son Robert, Jr. was married to actress Barbara Colby who, while estranged from Robert, was shot and killed along with her friend in a parking garage in Los Angeles in July 1975 by apparent gang members who had no clear motive.Merman was notorious for her brash demeanour and for telling vulgar stories at public parties.