Pioneer and homesteader, Dorothy Merrick, long time resident of the Peace River area, passed away on May 3, 2010 on her farm where she raised her family for over 60 years.

Dorothy was born January 28, 1915 in the, then new Beaverlodge Hospital. She was the 5th child born of eleven to Thomerson and Henrietta May Medcalfe. She is survived by one sister Pearl (Don) Clarke of Victoria, British Columbia.

Grandma's family came from Manitoba across the old Edson Trail in 1911, when her oldest sister Hannah was a baby. Her family ran the post office in Halcourt. She told us she liked to get up before everyone else to feed the team of horses so when her dad was ready to haul the mail, the team was ready to go. She was very proud of her parents and how hard working they were.

As a teenager, Grandma worked on the Hodges farm in Beaverlodge. She made the move to Pouce Coupe and worked at the old hospital, where she met her lifelong friend Wilma. They enjoyed swimming in the river and biking around in their free time. Together they met their future husbands and Dorothy and Earl settled on High Ridge, just south of Pouce Coupe.

The children came along soon after. Joyce and John were born there and in 1942 they moved to the present day farm 5 miles east of Dawson, along the Pouce River. Three more children came along; George, Garry (Jake) and Gordon.

Her love of the farm life, growing her own vegetables, milking cows, raising chickens and her all time favorite thing – berry picking, was evident by the amount of preserving she did for her family. She always had fresh baking and lots of it, to tantalize her grandchildren, who came to visit and knew where her fresh buns and peanut butter were kept. Her large meals, a throwback to the thrashing crew days, were truly not to be missed. Her thick dairy cream, fresh butter, berry jams of all sorts, a lot of combinations she made up herself.

She was so creative. She made tons of toques, scarves, mitts and socks, all made from multicolored wool, much to her grandchildren's delight and now they have her treasures from their great grandma, to remember her by.

Dorothy lived a life of doing what had to be done, she was the most self reliant person we'll ever know. She lived her life with a quiet grace and dignity. She is missed by all who knew and loved her.

Beloved wife to the late John Earl Merrick Sr; loving mother to Joyce Crozier, John and Yvonne Merrick, George and Irene Merrick, Garry Merrick, Lorraine Merrick, Gordon and Carolyn Merrick; grandmother to Lorna, Earl (Lynn), Steven, Sean, Yvonne (Jason), Hannah (Ken), Sarah (Richard), Richard and the late Pat Merrick; great grandmother to 18 grandchildren and sister to Pearl (Don) Clarke.

A memorial service was held at the Bergeron Funeral Chapel, Dawson Creek, British Columbia on May 7, 2010 with Captain Francie Lee officiating.

Dorothy was cremated and her urn was laid to rest in her father's grave in Halcourt as were her wishes.

We bid farewell, until we meet again, to a remarkable woman.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to Bergeron Funeral Services & Crematorium Ltd.
(250) 782-2577 Dawson Creek, British Columbia (800) 577-4877