Merle Cecil, 85

Merle Cecil passed away Aug. 26, 2015, at her home in Spirit Lake, Idaho, due to complications from a major stroke and dementia. Merle was born in Grass Valley, Calif., on Aug. 4, 1930. After graduating high school, she moved to Sacramento where she met and married Ralph Cecil.

Merle was preceded in death by both her parents, Charles and Violet Powell; her two brothers, Wesley and Frank; her sister, Mary Helen; and the love of her life, her husband, Ralph. Merle is survived by her brother, Eugene of Oakland, Calif.; her two daughters, Rose Cecil Anderson of Spirit Lake and Maureen Cecil Coyne of Columbia, Mo.; three grandchildren: Tony Anderson, Mandy Anderson Hartz and James Coyne Jr.; five great-grandchildren: ValJon and Shea Oldfield (Mandy), and Jordan, Tyson and Chase Anderson (Tony).

During her working years, Merle worked for a bank, a grocery store, a school, the United States Bureau of Reclamation and the United States Forest Service. She loved working crossword puzzles, John Wayne movies and being a member of the Nazarene Church. But mostly, she loved her family.

Services for Merle will be held at a later date in Arizona. Please visit Merle's online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.