Lifelong
area resident and homemaker Corrine Isabelle (Welker) Merhar, 82, a
former county assessor and public administrator, who was active in the Shelby
community, died after a long illness Wednesday at a Shelby hospital.
Her funeral is 2 p.m. Sunday at Community United Methodist Church in Shelby,
with burial in Mountain View Cemetery. A memorial lunch will take place at the
church after the burial. Whitted Funeral Chapel of Shelby is in charge of
arrangements.
Corrine will be lovingly remembered by her children and their spouses, Don (Debi),
Mike (Heidi), Vicki (Randy), Joe (Nancy), Mary Ann (John), John (Lovette), Susan
(Terry), Pat (Tom) and Linda (Lee). She will be fondly remembered by her 18
grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and an honorary grandchild in Florida.
Her only surviving brother, Howard, currently resides in Colorado.
She was preceded in death by her brothers Lawrence, Forest, Ralph, Miles and
James; sisters Blanche and Alma; and a grandson, David.
It is with great sadness that her family announces her passing on Wednesday, May
3, 2007.
The daughter of homesteading parents and the youngest of nine, Corrine was born
in Shelby, where she lived the majority of her life. She held varied careers,
starting straight out of high school, as office manager for Montana Dakota
Utilities, a job she held until the birth of her first child. Later in life, she
started delivering newspapers, was elected Toole County Assessor and served as
public administrator following retirement. An ardent supporter of her community,
Corrine participated in many local organizations, including Toastmistress,
Business and Professional Women, Library Board, Garden Club and as social
reporter for the Shelby Promoter newspaper. Corrine was actively involved with
lay ministry and Bible study at the United Methodist Church, and taught Sunday
School to the youngest members for more than 27 years.
Corrine often said that her greatest accomplishment and continuing source of
pride were her nine children. Raising them herself, she insisted that they
attend college, and many went on to careers in engineering, teaching and
nursing. Most importantly, they all became homemakers for her grandchildren.
Corrine loved to travel with her children and went on many trips throughout the
United States and Canada. She also traveled internationally, enjoying visits to
Australia, England, Scotland and Wales. Her latest adventure was to Ireland,
where she visited the land of her ancestors and was adventurous enough to kiss
the Blarney Stone.
Those who so desire may make donations in memory of Corrine to the United
Methodist Church, 413 2nd St. S., Shelby, MT 59474, in recognition of her love
of Jesus; or to the Humane Society for her deep love of animals.
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