Snyder Family 2016 - Person Sheet
NameRitchie Billie Merry 
179
179Birth16 Mar 1918, Crane, Oregon
Death22 May 2011, Spokane, Spokane Co., Washington
EducationWeippe H.S. Graduate, 1937
FatherSherman D. Merry
MotherLula A. Pruitt
Spouses
Birth18 Jan 1918, Weippe, Clearwater Co., Idaho267
Birth Memob. near the OK District of Weippe, ID
Death17 May 2010, Spokane, Spokane Co., Washington
FatherHarmon Bonner (1887-1956)
MotherDottie G. Vandevender (1893-1948)
Marriage2 Apr 1938
Notes for Ritchie Billie Merry
Ritchie B. Merry, 93, Spokane
Posted: Sunday, June 12, 2011 12:00 am
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 granddaughter, 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 goats 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 millwright 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 in 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 great-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.
Posted: Sunday, June 12, 2011 12:00 am
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 granddaughter, 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 goats 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 millwright 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 in 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 great-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.
Notes for Dorothy Elma “Sammy” (Spouse 1)
Dorothy Merry (01/18/1918 - 05/17/2010)
MERRY, Dorothy Elma (Bonner) Passed peacefully from this earth Monday, May 17 at her home in Spokane, WA. Dorothy was born January 18, 1918 to Harmon and Dottie (Vandevender) Bonner near the OK District of Weippe, ID.
She always spoke fondly of her childhood spent in the woods, especially the summers at the Browns Creek Lookout where her Dad was brush camp superintendent and her Mom was cook. Her love of being outdoors was life long. Mrs. Merry attended the OK School and graduated from Weippe High School 1937. During high school, and after, she worked for Bell Telephone as a switchboard operator until marrying Mr. Ritchie B. Merry April 2, 1938. The newlyweds moved to Bruce's Eddy on the Northfork of the Clearwater River where they raised angora goats, sheep, chickens and a market garden with his parents S. D. and Lula (Pruitt) Merry.
Their daughters, Janice and Linda were born while there. This area is now under the Dworshak pool and known as Merry's Bay. The family lived in Lewiston, Cottonwood and Weippe while their daughters were in school and then back to Lewiston after the girls married. In 1961 Dorothy and Ritchie moved to Golden, CO and in 1963 bought and operated the A Bar D Motel until 1979 when they retired to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. They relocated in Clarkston, WA from 1990 until 2001 when they moved to Spokane to be near their youngest granddaughter, Lisa Kelly and her family.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Nellie Hansen, Ruby Winfrey, her brother Harmon "Bud" Bonner and grandson Kevin Marek. She is survived by her husband, Ritchie B. Merry; her daughters Janice (Don) Wilkins of Nine Mile Falls, WA, Linda Porter of Lewiston, ID, grandchildren Julie Wilkins (Bill) Nichols of Wenatchee, Tess Wilkins of Seattle, Lisa Wilkins (Daren) Kelly, of Spokane, Lenni May of Denver and Rick Kelly of Lewiston, 10 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Dorothy enjoyed reading, playing the piano, crotcheting, embroidering, gardening, canning, listening to country music, but especially the outdoors where one can truly appreciate God's creations. While living in Friday Harbor and Clarkston she gardened and canned for the extended family. We will miss our Sammy very, very much. We are grateful that she passed peacefully with family members by her side. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to Horizon Hospice of Spokane.
Published in Spokesman-Review from May 23 to May 24, 2010
MERRY, Dorothy Elma (Bonner) Passed peacefully from this earth Monday, May 17 at her home in Spokane, WA. Dorothy was born January 18, 1918 to Harmon and Dottie (Vandevender) Bonner near the OK District of Weippe, ID.
She always spoke fondly of her childhood spent in the woods, especially the summers at the Browns Creek Lookout where her Dad was brush camp superintendent and her Mom was cook. Her love of being outdoors was life long. Mrs. Merry attended the OK School and graduated from Weippe High School 1937. During high school, and after, she worked for Bell Telephone as a switchboard operator until marrying Mr. Ritchie B. Merry April 2, 1938. The newlyweds moved to Bruce's Eddy on the Northfork of the Clearwater River where they raised angora goats, sheep, chickens and a market garden with his parents S. D. and Lula (Pruitt) Merry.
Their daughters, Janice and Linda were born while there. This area is now under the Dworshak pool and known as Merry's Bay. The family lived in Lewiston, Cottonwood and Weippe while their daughters were in school and then back to Lewiston after the girls married. In 1961 Dorothy and Ritchie moved to Golden, CO and in 1963 bought and operated the A Bar D Motel until 1979 when they retired to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. They relocated in Clarkston, WA from 1990 until 2001 when they moved to Spokane to be near their youngest granddaughter, Lisa Kelly and her family.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Nellie Hansen, Ruby Winfrey, her brother Harmon "Bud" Bonner and grandson Kevin Marek. She is survived by her husband, Ritchie B. Merry; her daughters Janice (Don) Wilkins of Nine Mile Falls, WA, Linda Porter of Lewiston, ID, grandchildren Julie Wilkins (Bill) Nichols of Wenatchee, Tess Wilkins of Seattle, Lisa Wilkins (Daren) Kelly, of Spokane, Lenni May of Denver and Rick Kelly of Lewiston, 10 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Dorothy enjoyed reading, playing the piano, crotcheting, embroidering, gardening, canning, listening to country music, but especially the outdoors where one can truly appreciate God's creations. While living in Friday Harbor and Clarkston she gardened and canned for the extended family. We will miss our Sammy very, very much. We are grateful that she passed peacefully with family members by her side. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to Horizon Hospice of Spokane.
Published in Spokesman-Review from May 23 to May 24, 2010