MERRICK

ELIZABETH (BETTY) JEAN

Born in Calgary, Alberta December 11, 1936 and died peacefully at the St Joseph鈥檚 Hospital in Comox from cancer, on May 19, 2005. Betty met her true love at a young age and married Gordon Raymond Merrick, September 11, 1954. Gordon and Betty moved to Lethbridge in 1960 and lived there while raising their family. Following retirement, they moved to Black Creek, B.C. in 1988 and resided there until her passing. While living in Black Creek, Betty thoroughly enjoyed her art classes. She loved to hike and walk along the beaches, travel to far away places, cook and tend to her flower garden, but most of all she deeply loved her family. Betty was a sweet, private, gentle woman, who loved to laugh and everyone who met her loved her gentle and kind ways. Betty will be profoundly missed by her loving husband of over 50 years, Gordon, children and grandchildren: Richard (Cheri); Niki, Alicia, Richelle Merrick (great granddaughter; Kansis). Kathleen (Werner): Bryce, Nicholas Schrage. Patrick (Darla): Jim, Amanda, Gordon Merrick. Marion (Darrell): Derek, Kristopher, Staci Eastman. Donna (Neil): Braeden, Karlyn Court. Mother: Margaret (Peggy) Bennett, sisters and their families: Joan (Ben) Gross, Ruth Miller, Carol (Michael) Farris, numerous nieces and nephews, and her dear relatives and friends. Betty was predeceased by her: son, Paul Thomas Merrick, father, Joseph Rackham, adoptive father, Albert Bennett, sister, Susan Vera (Peter), nephew, Timothy Farris, brother-in-law, Jim Miller. Prayers were offered at St Patrick鈥檚 Roman Catholic Church on Monday, May 23rd at 7:00 pm, followed by Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, May 24th at 11:00 am with Father William MacDONALD, O.M.I., celebrant. Arrangements under the direction of ISLAND FUNERAL SERVICES/ELK FALLS CREMATORIUM, 103-909 ISLAND HIGHWAY, Campbell River. Flowers gratefully declined in consideration of donations to Amnesty International, 312 Laurier Avenue East, Ottawa, Ontario. K1H 1H9