Merna Marie Nash

Merna was born in Red Cloud, NE on February 10, 1928, to Thomas and Gladys Elliott. She was one of 10 children and grew up on a farm southwest of Red Cloud. Merna graduated from Red Cloud High School. In 1946 she married the love of her life, Loren Nash and later moved to Grand Island, NE where they lived for 17 years. They had three children, Anita, Lyle and Mark. Merna was a stay at home mom until moving to Loveland, CO in 1966 where she and her husband owned and operated two motels for the next 7 years. At that time, she went to work for Colorado State University working in the Food Science Department, later moving to the Honors program where she managed all of the Honor student’s academically. She also planned all honors programs, banquets, and special activities. Merna was at CSU for a total of 11 years before retiring in 1991. Throughout her lifetime she was always actively involved with her church working in the women’s ministry, foreign missions and girl’s clubs.

During her lifetime she loved flowers and gardening. Merna was an accomplished artist and enjoyed all kinds of crafts.

Merna is survived by her siblings; Willma Falgione, Mary Crawford, Joyce Sell, Russell Elliott; daughter Anita Bentley of Loveland and her son Lyle(Jane) Nash of Ridgway. She had six grandchildren; Tina Reed, Timothy Venrick, Jeremy Nash, Jessica Forrestal, Matt Nash, Holy Lira. Merna also had 8 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews that will greatly miss her.

She was proceeded in death by her parents; her loving husband of 60 years, Loren Nash; a sister Marcelene Hitchcock; her brothers, Dale, Dallas, Dewayne and Charles Elliott; her son, Mark Nash; son-in-law, Bob Bentley; and her grandson, Timothy Venrick.

Viewing will be Friday December 18th at 12:30 at Resthaven Funeral Home, 8426 South Highway 287, Fort Collins, CO followed by services at 1:30 pm. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation c/o Resthaven.