Ritchie Billie Merry b. 16 Mar 1918 Crane, Harney County, Oregon d. 22 May 2011 Spokane, Spokane County, Washington

1918 - 2011 (93 years)

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Name	Ritchie Billie Merry
Nickname	Poppy
Born	16 Mar 1918	Crane, Harney County, Oregon
Gender	Male
Died	22 May 2011	Spokane, Spokane County, Washington
Person ID	I272008477528	Eby/Aebi and Bernethy Family
Last Modified	13 Jul 2012

Family Dorothy E Bonner, b. 1918, Clearwater County, Idaho , d. 18 May 2010, Spokane, Spokane County, Washington (Age 92 years)

Children

	1. Janice Merry, b. Abt 1940
	2. Linda Merry, b. Abt 1941

Last Modified 13 Jul 2012

Family ID F246729423956 Group Sheet

Event Map

	Born - 16 Mar 1918 - Crane, Harney County, Oregon
	Died - 22 May 2011 - Spokane, Spokane County, Washington

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Notes

Ritchie Billie Merry, affectionately known to family and close friends as Poppy, was born in Crane, Ore., to Sherman D. and Lula A. Pruitt Merry March 16, 1918. He passed away peacefully in his sleep May 22, 2011, in Spokane, at the home of his gr anddaughter, where he had resided for the past 10 years. Poppy was 93.
As a boy, his family moved to Lewiston in 1927, where Ritchie was an honor student at Whitman Elementary. In 1934, they moved to Weippe, where he graduated from high school in 1937 and was a valedictorian of his senior class.
In his junior year of high school he met the love of his life, Dorothy E. Bonner. They married April 2, 1938. The newlyweds settled in a small home adjacent to his parents' farm on the North Fork of the Clearwater River. Here he raised angora goat s with friend and partner Dale Miles.
In the next four years, two daughters, Janice and Linda, joined the couple. In 1946, they left the farm and eventually settled in Weippe, where Ritchie was employed by L.C. Cardiff Lumber Mill until 1958. At this time he began to work as a millwri ght on various missile sites, which eventually took them to Colorado, where they were joined by their youngest daughter, Linda and her family. While employed at Coors Brewery Company as a millwright, they purchased and operated the A Bar D motel i n Denver until they retired to the San Juan Islands of Washington in 1980 with their daughter Janice and her family. In 1990, they relocated to Clarkston to be with family until they moved to Spokane in 2001 to be near their youngest granddaughter , Lisa.
Poppy's interests were reading, chess, woodworking, crosswords, cards, and following the progress and achievements of his grand- and great-grandchildren. He was dearly loved and highly esteemed by his family and friends.
Ritchie was preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Dorothy (Sammy); his parents, Sherman and Lula; brothers, Merrill and Sherman; and eldest grandson, Kevin Merek. He is survived by his sister, Mona Merry and Art Thompson of Arizona; daughters , Janice Merry and Don Wilkins of Nine Mile Falls, Wash., and Linda Merry Porter of Lewiston; grandchildren, Julie Wilkins and Bill Nichols, Tess Wilkins and Bruce Nisbet, Lisa Wilkins and Daren Kelly, Lenni Sue May and Rick Kelly; as well as 10 g reat-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren, with one on the way.
Poppy, you are loved - "Hasta luego and save your money!"
A memorial service to celebrate the lives of Dorothy and Ritchie Merry will be conducted at 2 p.m. June 25 at Mountain View Funeral Home, 3521 Seventh St., Lewiston. A reception and refreshments to follow the ceremony.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Horizon Hospice of Spokane.
© 2011 The Lewiston Tribune.