Chadrad.com

Merry Lynn Irving has moved on to Heavenly quarters, where she will set up permanent residence. She was called home on September 30, 2009 at Crestview Care Center after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s.

Merry was born on June 24, 1949, in Wayzata, Minnesota to Vernon and Merry Mathison and was the oldest of three children. She attended school in Wayzata and graduated in 1967. During her high school years her parents were saved at a Billy Graham Crusade and began attending Plymouth Baptist Church. It was at this church that Merry accepted Christ as her personal Savior, and she would have told anyone that this was the most important decision of her life.

Following high school, she attended Pillsbury Baptist Bible College in Owatonna, Minnesota. After two years, she transferred to Mankato State College in Mankato, Minnesota where she met and married John Irving in 1971. Six months later, they moved to Sun Prairie, Wisconsin and worked together running a Country Kitchen restaurant. In 1972, they moved back to Minneapolis where Merry accepted a teaching position at Plymouth Baptist Christian Academy. In 1973 they moved to Chadron where Merry completed her education and graduated from CSC in 1974 with a B.S. in Elementary Education and a minor in Special Education.

John and Merry started their family in 1975 with the birth of their daughter, Wendy, and together they realized the love and joy of being parents. Son, Chad was added in 1977 and daughter, Merry Melissa followed in 1984. Merry enjoyed and cherished time together as a family and made her husband and children the priority in her life. Merry taught and worked at Chadron Christian School from 1978 to 1998. She loved teaching and loved children and her life revolved around both. Sundays found her teaching Sunday school, working in the nursery, and together with John, put on a Junior Church Program for 12 years. Children of all ages (including John) would sit in rapt attention as Merry would tell a missionary story.

Merry so enjoyed the simple things in life—a sunset, her gardens, a full moon, a drive through the Black Hills, or just a walk. She loved her family vacations and would spend hours pouring over the atlas’ planning every moment. Merry would humorously tell you that she has moved back in with her parents! (Vern and Merry departed us for their heavenly home in the early 1990’s) Merry leaves behind a multitude of family and friends who cherish her tremendously.