Meeker, Obituaries

Obituary: Merle Brenton

Merle Brenton
Merle Brenton
Merle Evelyn Snyder Brenton was the youngest daughter of Parker Lindley and Grace Minnie Shugart Snyder. She was born in Independence, Montgomery County, Kan., on May 10, 1910. She passed away on Oct. 19, 2013, at the age of 103 years, five months and nine days.
Merle went to school in Independence until she was 12-years-old. Her mother got sick, and her doctor advised that the family move West, slowly. The family moved to Rifle, Colo., and then on to the Dudley Place on Piceance Creek, where she and her nephew, Jim McKay, rode horses to the Rock School five days a week.
While Merle and her family lived on Piceance Creek, her uncle Ralph Shugart came for a visit. Before he went back to Columbus, Ohio, he talked Merle’s family into letting her return with him, so he could put her in a finishing school.
While Merle was living in Ohio, her folks bought and ran the Rio Blanco Store and Post Office, (her Mom being the post mistress) at Rio Blanco, Colo. Merle’s sister, May, and brother-in-law Don McKay ran the hotel at Rio Blanco, which was across the road from the store.
Merle got very sick while in Ohio and came home to be with her family.
She attended school at the Rock School, Rifle High and Meeker High until her father passed away in 1932. Merle quit school in her junior year of high school at the time of her father’s death to help her mother with the Rio Blanco Store and Post Office.
On July 5, 1934, she married the “love of her life,” Everett J. Brenton. They celebrated 44 years of marriage. They had two children, Goldia Marie Brenton (Moomey) and Everett Frank Brenton.
Everett and Merle made their home in Rio Blanco most of their lives. In her 103 years she saw many changes, from horse and buggy, to men walking on the moon, automobiles, electricity, television, computers and so many more items.
Merle leaves to mourn her passing one daughter, Goldia, and her husband, Jerry Moomey; eight grandchildren, Carl and Kelly Moomey, Theresa Moomey, Judy Simon, Jere (Toby) and Time Hagin, Rusty and Ann Moomey, Darrell and Peggy Moomey and Karen and Eddie Elliott, and Billy James and Keri Brenton; 26 great-grandchildren; 16 great-great-grandchildren; and lots of nephews and nieces. Merle was preceded in death by her parents, P.L. and Grace M. Snyder; three brothers, Clarence, Darrell (Kelly) and Norvel; one sister, Halley May; her beloved husband, Everett James “Ev”; and her son, Everett Frank Brenton; and almost all her friends.
Funeral services took place from the Christian Church on Oct. 28, 2013, at 11 a.m. Interment took place in Highland Cemetery in Meeker, Colo.

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  • Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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  • It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
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Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week. Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! We appreciate all your continued support!
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