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Sharlyn Grace (Gott) Merkley, 81

Sharlyn Grace (Gott) Merkley, age 81, a long-time resident of Post Falls, Idaho, passed away peacefully on May 7, 2018, after a long illness.

Sharlyn began life on July 17, 1936, in San Francisco, Calif., as the oldest child of Leona (Love) and Francis “Frank” Gott. She grew up in Stockton, Calif., Sharlyn joined the Civil Air Patrol as a Cadet while still in High School and loved flying.

There she met and later married Alexander “Al” Bruner on Jan. 19, 1954. They soon moved to southern Idaho, where Al eventually began working for the Idaho Fish and Game Department. Sharlyn came to love the high desert country, and when later asked what her favorite place in the whole world was she’d happily reply, “Market Lake in Idaho,” or “Jenny Lake in Wyoming,” depending on how she was feeling that day.

Sharlyn and Al had two sons and a daughter; they divorced in 1967.

Sharlyn was one of the very first employees of Kootenai Memorial Hospital, where she met William “Boyd” Merkley. They were married and sealed for all time and eternity in the Cardston, Alberta, LDS Temple on Feb. 26, 1970. They stayed in the Post Falls area for the entirety of their married life. They were especially active in the Post Falls LDS Church. Together, they had a daughter.

Sharlyn was known for her creative cooking, gardening and love of the outdoors as a young mother and taught her children many valuable lessons. Later in life, as a firm believer in lifelong learning, she became interested in a myriad of things, including genealogy, restoring old family photos, oil painting and creating unique jewelry both as a silversmith and beading expert. Many people remember her as the Post Falls LDS church librarian, even recently remarking that, “God must have needed a librarian.” She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Left to honor and remember Sharlyn are her brother, Ronald (Beverly) Gott; her husband of 45 years, Wm. Boyd Merkley; her children, Michael J. Bruner, Steven (Linda) Bruner, Julia (Clifford) Knapp and Jennifer R. Merkley; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; many grandchildren and many, many great-grandchildren, who were a great joy in her life.

Preceding Sharlyn in death are her parents; her sisters, Carole Lozano and Arlette Young; grandson, Zachary Lamb and great-grandson, Jaxon King-England.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, May 11, 2018, at the Post Falls LDS Church, 1824 E 16th Ave., Post Falls, Idaho. ALL ARE INVITED. Graveside dedication will follow at Post Falls Evergreen Cemetery. Following the dedication, the family invites friends and anyone whose life was touched by Sharlyn back the church to join us for a time to reminisce, grieve, tell stories and lend each other support while enjoying some food prepared by the LDS Relief Society.

The family would especially like to thank the staff at Life Care Center of Post Falls, which was Sharlyn’s home for the last four years, for their tender loving care. English Funeral Chapel, Post Falls has been entrusted with the final arrangements. Please view and sign Sharlyn’s online registry at www.englishfuneralchapel.com