Merritt Smith
Merritt DeAnn Sherrell Smith, 38, a Hood River native and resident of The Dalles, died Aug. 1, 2004, in a boating accident on Foster Reservoir near Sweet Home in Linn County.

She was born July 10, 1966, in Hood River to Ed and Bonnie (Fitzgerald) Sherrell and grew up there. She was a member of the Hood River High School class of 1984. She worked in several industries including fruit processing, the food service industry, mail processing, and lately roofing with her husband’s company. She loved horses, and enjoyed training and showing them. She also loved muscle cars and fishing.

She was a member of the Gateway Presbyterian Church in The Dalles, the American Easy-Gaited Horse Association, A.A., and enjoyed volunteering as an inspirational speaker at NORCOR.

Survivors include her husband Keith Smith, The Dalles; her parents, Ed and Bonnie Sherrell, Black Butte Ranch; her children, son Tanner Glen Sherrell, Odell; Douglas “D.J.” Smith, The Dalles; daughter Sarah Sherrell, Hood River; her brothers Ed Sherrell, Hermiston; Todd Sherrell, Hood River; and Andrew Sherrell, Black Butte Ranch; and her sisters Kelly Clark, Camas, Wash.; Angela Sherrell, Black Butte Ranch; and Dawn Lahti, Hood River.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 7, at 11 a.m. at Gateway Presbyterian Church, 10th and Dry Hollow Road in The Dalles, with the Reverend Dr. James Hazlett presiding. A luncheon reception follows at 12:30 p.m. at the Discovery Center.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Unity and Recovery Foundation, 10th and Federal Streets, The Dalles, OR 97058. Arrangements are by Columbia Cremation and Burial.

Merritt Photo Album

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