Obituary of Elayne Merritt

Elayne Joyce Merritt, 86, of Finlayson passed away on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at GracePointe Crossing Gables West in Cambridge. She was born July 15, 1923 in Pine Lake Township, Minnesota to Frank and Elizabeth (Kanto) Hobbs. Elayne grew up near Finlayson where she attended the Pine Lake one room school and graduated from Finlayson High School Elayne farmed with her husband for several years before going to beauty school to become a hairdresser. She worked for several years as a hairdresser at the Moose Lake State Hospital from which she retired. Elayne enjoyed quilting and loved to share the bounty of her kitchen and garden and found great joy in nature and the outdoors. She especially liked to watch the hummingbirds at her feeders. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Charles C. Smith, Estel Merritt, son Charles L. Smith and sister Myrtle Mikkula. Elayne is survived by her daughters Beverly Hut of Mora, Joyce Davis of Poplarville, MS, son Carroll and wife Jan Smith of Ramsey, nine grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, brother Gary Hobbs of Finlayson, sisters Irene Petry of Askov, Marion and husband Walter Beehler of Finlayson, as well as several nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.