Russell H. Merriman, 75
Russell (Russ) Hubert Merriman, 75 years old, of Coeur d'Alene, ID went home to be with the Lord on December 22 in 2012 of natural causes. Memorial service will be held Jan 15 at 1 PM at Lake City Community Church, 6000 Ramsey Rd, Coeur d’ Alene, ID 83815.
Russ was born on May 12, 1937, in Priest River, Idaho to Jeannette C. and Russell H. Merriman. He joined a sister, Roberta, who was 5 years older. Since his father worked for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare they moved around a lot: Sandpoint, Weiser, Lewiston, Idaho and in San Francisco, California when his dad was in the Navy in WWII. He lived in Lewiston, Idaho and graduated from Lewiston High School in 1955. He went to Lewis Clark Normal School and the U of Idaho. He worked for Potlatch Mill and the pea cannery. He was in the Naval Reserves for 8 years and worked at Sherwin Williams Paints for 15 years (Lewiston, Pasco, and Spokane). He then went to work for the State of Idaho Port of Entry for 29 years and lived in Pocatello, Sandpoint, Cataldo, Rose Lake Junction, and Coeur d’Alene until he retired in 1999. Russ loved hunting, fishing, boating, woodworking, being outdoors, camping, traveling, and helping others. He and his mother would go on trips to the Oregon Coast for fishing, clamming, and crabbing as well as steel head fishing in the local areas. He met his wife, Jane, in 1981 in Lewiston, Idaho and was married in May 1981. They had a son, Russell, in April 1982 while living at the Rose Lake Junction and working at the Cedars Port of Entry. In 1986 they moved into Coeur d'Alene and worked at Hutter POE and also Roving Pickup until he retired in 1999.
They attended Community Baptist Church in Pinehurst, Cd’A Bible Church and Bethel Baptist Church in Cd’A. He was very active in the AWANA program for 11 years until they attended Hayden Evangelical Friends Church in 1991 where he was very active in Children’s First Grade Sunday School, MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), Hospitality Committee, and usher. Russ was also active in events with North Idaho Christian School where their son attended. He organized a Mother's Day Brunch and Breakfast at the Labor Day Church Campout at Bull River, Montana for several years.
He was also active with the American Cancer Society, Relay for Life, and attended the Cancer Support Group as support for his wife who is a survivor of cancer. In 2003 he became an KMC Aux. Volunteer and worked diligently at the Adult Day Program and the Main Info Desk in the front KMC lobby. He was often found “clowning around” with full clown gear bringing smiles to anyone he met. He loved kids and was always ready with a laugh and a smile and a joke. He was loved and respected by all who knew him and had a special attraction to kids and animals.
He was diagnosed with “Desmin” Muscular Dystrophy and was confined to a wheelchair. This was, however, just an inconvenience as he was still his humorous and loving self in spite of all the challenges he had.
Our family is requesting your thoughts, stories, prayers, scriptures you want to share sent to Lake City Community Church c/o Brian Burkhalter for a special remembrance book.
He is survived by his wife Janie, son Russell, “daughters” Kyleen Derry and Maki Kamada, and special friend Sandy Kojac.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Lake City Community Church Food Bank Ministry, 6000 Ramsey Rd, Coeur d’ Alene, ID 83815. Condolences may be left in the Russell Hubert Merriman online guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.