Merrit Marie (Elam) Kittock, 48

Merrit Marie (Elam) Kittock, 48, of Tekoa, Wash., passed away suddenly Friday, Sept. 23, 2011, at the Spokane Valley Hospital.

Merrit was born March 7, 1963, and grew up in Whitefish.

She graduated from Whitefish High school in 1981, where she was a cheerleader, sang in the choir, and found a relationship with Jesus. She was very popular, outgoing and a beloved girl throughout her whole life.

After high school, she lived in Arizona for 21 years, moving to Tekoa in 2003. As a mother of three, she chose to only work part-time jobs at the Tekoa schools, a medical clinic, and elder care facility in Garfield, and she had just started working for a pharmacy in Tekoa when she became ill. She was very well known in Tekoa, universally loved and respected by everyone.

She is survived by her three children, Dane, 13, Caleb, 10, and Hannah, 8, all of Tekoa; also by her father and mother, Vern and Joan Elam of Mesa, Ariz.; brothers, Jay, Mike and Tracy Elam; and several nieces and nephews.

Her sweet, kind, generous nature, and her happy, positive, joyous love of life will be missed by everyone.

The Elam family will have a celebration of Merrit's life at 6 p.m. today, Sept. 27, at Dos Amigos in Whitefish.