LeOra Lynn Merrill, 73, of Lebanon, Oregon died Monday, March 11, 2019. LeOra Merrill was the first child born to Charles and Mindy Merrill on December 18, 1945 in Glendale, California.

As a young child, and when her father finished his military service, the family settled in Sweet Home. LeOra graduated from Sweet Home High School and attended Clark College in Vancouver, Washington. She lived and worked in Los Angeles for a few years. Most recently, LeOra resided in Lebanon. She gave birth to two beautiful daughters, Tiina Fitzgerald and Lissa Keesee.

Her hobbies were sewing, knitting, crocheting, and studying geology. She liked going to church and volunteering for organizations. LeOra’s life journey was sometimes difficult, but she found great joy in calling her family and friends often to see how they were doing, and then praying for their needs.

She loved the Lord and, after a bout with cancer, she talked about going to heaven and being reunited with her parents. As part of her written plans for the memorial service today, she said to tell everyone to love God and Jesus.

She is survived by her sister, Ruth Merrill, and brother, Allan (Mary Lou) Merrill; daughters Tiina (Gabriel) Fitzgerald and Lissa (Brad) Keesee; grandchildren Mackenzi Merriill-Olsson, Brayden Keesee, and Hudson Fitzgerald; nieces Sharla (Alex) Samarin and Kaydi (David) Hurley; and nephew Lynn (Nichol) Merrill.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

A funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, March 14, at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. A private burial will be at Crawfordsville Union Cemetery.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements.