Meredith was on the show for four years. After Bea Benaderet died, in Meredith's third year with the show, she started missing episodes. Anyone know why?

I guess nobody knows the answer.

Maybe there is a real answer to this, but I'm just assuming the character just wasn't used in episodes, thus she never appeared. Take The Cosby Show as an example. In it's last few seasons, not every character appeared in each episode, it's just how some shows do it I guess. When there is a large cast to work with, that happens.

I hope there is another reason, but that's just my guess.

Petticoat Junction did not have a large cast, though.

After Steve married Betty Jo, Billie Jo's and Bobbie Jo's parts were smaller.

Bobbie Jo was always on, no matter how small her part was.

It could have been that her part was just arranged that way, that she wanted to be written out of so many eps per season. So they referred to her as being off pursuing a singing career to cover her absence. There is the possibility, of course, that she was recovering from some illness or injury, but it seems each year she was gone for a few weeks at a time, so not very likely.

Often enough, though, when a cast member is away for a while it is a contract dispute.

It could have been that her part was just arranged that way, that she wanted to be written out of so many eps per season. So they referred to her as being off pursuing a singing career to cover her absence. There is the possibility, of course, that she was recovering from some illness or injury, but it seems each year she was gone for a few weeks at a time, so not very likely.

Often enough, though, when a cast member is away for a while it is a contract dispute.
Maybe she just had something else to do. She did sing so maybe that had something to do with it.