Theresa C. Cole Merritt

Our loving wife and mother passed away March 29, 2010.

Mom was born Feb. 14, 1955 to Floyd and Phylis Nelson in Libby.  She was raised in Troy up Iron Creek and attended Troy schools until she graduated in 1973. Mom married Bill Merritt on May 27, 1973, and they moved to Clinton.

After the birth of their daughter, Nicole (Nicci), they moved to Stevensville where they had two more daughters, Jamie and Willow. They moved to Darby in 1984 where Mom and Dad owned and operated Merritt Logging.

Mom did everything from sawing down trees to skidding logs with a cat to being camp cook. In 1995, Mom and Dad moved back to Troy where they operated Kootenai Valley Contractors and Kootenai Valley Metal Works. Mom was a member of the Quilt Guild, she loved quilting and beading, she canned, loved bowling, horseback riding, riding her quad, traveling with Dad and spending her time spoiling her grandkids. She loved her friends and family and cherished the time she spent with them.

Mom is preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Phylis Cole; brothers-in-law, David and Robert Lee; and sister-in-law, Patricia Lee.

She is survived by her loving husband, Bill; daughters, Nicci Merritt-Savage and husband Scott of Troy; Jamie Paulsen and husband Kim of Libby; and Willow Merritt of Detroit, Ore.; sister, Francine Ninneman of Troy; brother, Bruce Cole and wife Debbie of Troy; brother-in-law, James Lee and wife Priscilla of Los Angeles, Calif.; sisters-in-law, Lenice Lee of Texas, and Janet Argyle and husband Dean of Challis, Idaho; grandchildren, Aniqua Merritt, Trapper and Sawyer Savage, Warren and Izabelle Paulsen, many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., on Saturday, April 3 at the Methodist Church in Troy.

Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Libby handled arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

(Information submitted by survivors through Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home).