Ruth Merritt

Ruth Merritt, 87, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016 at Willow Springs Nursing Home. She was born on June 19, 1929, to Gust E., and Ruth (Morrison) Jakstadt in Bowbells, North Dakota. She attended grade school in Bowbells, and in 1942 moved to Pasco, WA. She graduated from Pasco High School in 1947.

In March, 1948, Ruth married Don Merritt. They were married for 65 years before Don passed away in 2013. They moved from Pasco in 1950 to Spokane and lived there until 1959, when they moved to Yakima and resided here ever since.

Ruth worked for several years for the Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce and also held secretarial positions at Youth for Christ and Wiley Heights Covenant Church. She loved the Lord all of her adult life.

Ruth especially loved being a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Mostly she enjoyed being a friend to many.

Ruth is survived by six children: Gary (Irene) of Stuart, FL, Joyce (Dan) Tucker of Moxee, Keith (Jean) of Longview, Robert (Colleen) of Selah, Doug (Judawn) of Prosser, and Mark (Becky) of Yakima. She leaves 17 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.

Celebration of Life services will be held at Sun Valley Church, 2002 E. Mead Ave., Yakima, WA, at 10:00 am on Dec. 3, 2016.

Memorials may be made to Flying H Youth Ranch, 370 Flying H Loop, Naches, WA 98937.

To celebrate the life of Ruth and share a memory visit www.keithandkeith.com.