Obituary: Crouch, Merna Collins
She was born November 8, 1924, in Greenan, Saskatchewan, Canada, on the family farm.
She grew up in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada, as the youngest where she shared the home with two sisters, Edith and Edna, and three brothers, Walter, Charles, and Sidney.
In 1943, Wayne Crouch, serving in WWII, was assigned to Dawson Creek with his army unit.
There he met Merna, and they were married on March 7, 1945, in the family home.
Merna remained with her parents while Wayne was stationed in Okinawa until the end of the war.
In 1946, Wayne and Merna made their home in Cleveland, Ohio.
Their marriage was blessed with the birth of three sons.
Wayne attended Western Reserve University in Cleveland and graduated with a degree in architecture.
In 1956, the family moved to Spokane.
Merna worked at Linwood Elementary School and Garfield Elementary School for fifteen years.
She was a favorite of the students at both schools.
Merna was a faithful wife, a dependable mother, a wonderful grandmother and great-grand- mother, and a prayer warrior.
She enjoyed the The Last Class (TLC) group for seniors at Trinity Baptist Church.
Her qualities of unconditional love and compassion, making Jam Gems and Nanaimo Bars, tapering pants, and babysitting made her the #1 mom.
Merna was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, sisters, and husband, Wayne.
Grateful for having the privilege of sharing her life are sons Tom (Lorraine), Jim (Alanna), and Jeff (Susan); four grand- children: Peter Crouch, Anna (Phil) Ball, Andrew (April) Crouch, and Mark (Joy) Crouch; and nine great-grandchildren: Jordan Villalobos-Crouch; Naomi, Jada, Caleb, and Shiloh Ball; Skylar and Lexington Crouch; and Stryder and Atalya Crouch.
Visitation will be held Thursday, March 27, 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. A celebration of her life will be held at Trinity Baptist Church, 6528 N Monroe Street, on Saturday, March 29, at 2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to Trinity Baptist Church.