Carolee Merritt passed away peacefully at her home in Priest River on Dec. 11, 2024. She was 84.

Born on Mar. 25,1940 to Bill & Mina Hirschi in Foster, OR. She was the 2nd of 4 children. She attended grade school in Foster, Oregon and later High School in Sweet Home, OR. In her younger years she worked in the fields around Sweet Home, picking strawberries, green beans, walnuts, etc. During her freshman year of high school, at a square dance, she met Buck Merritt, the man that she would fall in love with, eventually marry, and spend the next 66 years with. She worked all summer picking strawberries, so she could help pay for her wedding. Carolee and Buck were married in a little church in Foster in 1958. They lived in Oregon, where their 3 children were born Mark, Jill and Holly, until 1967, when they moved to Priest River, ID, where they, along with Bucks brother Wayne, purchased a sawmill. Carolee worked in the mill office for a while but eventually found her passion was making a loving home for Buck and their kids.

Carolee had a lot of adventures over the years with her family and friends. She has traveled all over the Northwest, Canada, and Alaska. Lots of trips to Mexico and has visited Europe, New Zealand, Australia, and cruised through the Panama Canal, just to name a few. She was a huge Gonzaga Bulldogs fan and traveled with her family to watch them compete in Hawaii and the Bahamas.

Carolee was the best cook around! You never went hungry at Carolee’s house. She loved to bake and was famous among her family and friends for her cookies. Always having a cookie plate ready for anyone who stopped by.

Carolee is survived by her husband Buck, son Mark (at Merry Glen in Spokane), daughters Jill (& Steve) Linton and Holly (& Herb) Janhsen of Priest River. Grandchildren Kyle (& Carissa) Linton, Chelsea (& Chad) Yount, Tanner Linton, Miles (& Brittany) Janhsen, Heidi (& Thomas) Luckey, Jodee (& John) Bell, Kim (& Dustin) Colombini, Steve (& Hannah) Hirst. Great-Grandchildren Carsen, Mason, Charlie, Reagan, Maeci, Emersyn, Crew, and Blaisy. Sister Sherry Tucker, Brother Steve Hirschi, Sister-in-law JaneAnne Hirschi, numerous close friends and extended family back in Oregon. She was preceded in death by her parents and Brother Gary Hirschi.

Services and a reception will be held on Thursday Dec. 19th, 11:00 AM at the Priest River Event Center. Sherman-Campbell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Family and friends are invited to sign the online guest book at Sherman-Campbell.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Marks home in Spokane, Merry Glen. You can visit their website at www.merryglen.org and go to the donations page or donations can be sent to Merry Glen, 2917 N Cincinnati St, Spokane, WA 99207 and reference “In Memory of Carolee Merritt.”

Sherman-Campbell Funeral Home in Newport WA. is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends are welcome to visit their website at www.shermancampbell. com.

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