Illa Merdell Lynn

On December 10, 1929, Illa Merdell Koontz was born in Douglas, Arizona to Dallas Pink and Vallie Maude Koontz. Both her wonderful parents, her precious husband of 62 years, Donald N. Lynn and her two loving sisters: Merle Holland and Jessie Maddux preceded her in death.

Merdell graduated from Douglas High School in 1947 and everyone knew her as the girl in jeans, who loved to ride motorcycles and play softball. As a teenager, everyone in Douglas knew her as the “Douglas Hurler” and was even recruited to play professional softball. However, her father died when she was 18 and so instead of going to the University of Arizona for a degree in Physical Education she moved to Phoenix and attended Lamson Business College. It was in Phoenix that she met Don and they were married. Merdell worked for the Bell System in various capacities for 40 years, retiring in 1989.

After retirement, she took care of her aunt in California and her sister in Douglas, Arizona until their passing. Don and Merdell took care of their grandson, James, during his elementary years and her family often fondly called her “Mrs. Clean”…as she would clean the clean.

Her most important choice in life was at the age of 13, when she professed to serve our Lord at a Christian convention held in Casa Grande, Arizona.

One daughter, Karen Lynn Pulley and one precious grandson, James Donald Pulley, both of Phoenix, survive her. In addition, she has two nieces, Janet Sheets of Peoria Arizona, and Patricia Denogean of Rialto, California; two nephews, Tom Maddux of Albuquerque and Frank (Bubby) Holland of Lake Havasu, Arizona and many cousins and a host of wonderful friends.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to: Arizona Care Hospice at https://azcarehospice.com or mail to 12036 N. Saguaro Blvd, #101, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268.

Services will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, August 25 at Green Acres Mortuary and Cemetery at 401 N Hayden Rd in Scottsdale. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Arizona Care Hospice at www.azcarehospice.com.