Joyce H. Merrill, 67

Joyce was born Sept. 28, 1942, in Everett, Wash., to Orville and Evelyn Rumsey. She has two brothers, Gerald Rumsey, now of Tucson, Ariz., and Brian Rumsey, now of Pony, Mont. They grew up on the beaches of Anacortes and Bridge Lake, British Columbia. She graduated from Anacortes High School. Joyce was an adventurous gal and became a licensed pilot as a student at Washington State University. She was married to Brunner Horne for 28 years and assisted him in all aspects of their business, building service stations in 11 Western states. They loved airplanes and owned Bellingham Air as a sideline. As they prospered and had more time, they spent several weeks of the summer on their boat out of La Conner and up the Inland Waterway to Alaska. She lived at times in Mount Vernon, Wash., New Meadows/McCall, Idaho, and Tucson. Joyce disliked TV and computers as being impersonal and sedentary. She loved people, quarter-horses, golden retrievers, books, golf, cruising, flying, world travel, sewing, cooking, etc... Joyce was intelligent, energetic, analytical, charitable, loyal and a great friend to all. She was not afraid to tackle any problem or project. After the death of Brunner, she married airline captain, Darrell K. Merrill, and they moved to Lakeside in 2000. She was a fabulous nurse to her husband in 2003 with his cancer; and then in June of 2009, Joyce was sent to the Huntsman Cancer Center for AML leukemia. The only known treatment failed this beautiful lady as did an experimental trial in Seattle. Joyce came home to be under the care of Dr. Michael Goodman for her last days. His staff, many doctors, nurses and specialists of Kalispell Regional Medical Center spared no effort to prolong and increase the quality of her life. She spent her days making sure that her daughter, Debbie, son-in-law, John Ellis, and granddaughters, Katie and Megan, of New Meadows, would be comfortable. Joyce took her last flight west in the ALERT helicopter from her Lakeside beach to KRMC on March 26, 2010. Joyce is survived by her husband, Darrell; three stepsons, stepgrandchildren, and numerous other family and friends. Joyce's service will be at 11 a.m. on April 10 at the Lakeside Community Chapel. Our thanks to Pastor Reece, Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and the Lakeside Ladies Community Club.