1947
Merlyn
2017
Merlyn Potters
February 5, 1947 — May 2, 2017
Merlyn M. Potters, 70, of Winters, California, died on May 2, 2017, after a three-year struggle with peritoneal cancer.
Born on February 5, 1947 in San Francisco to Victor and Bernice Monin, she spent her early childhood in San Francisco. The family moved to Pacifica, California, in 1954, where she attended elementary and high school, graduating from Terra Nova High School in 1964. Merlyn went on to graduate summa cum laude from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) with a BA degree in Communications in 1994.
For many years before returning to earn her college degree, Merlyn was a homemaker and mother raising her two sons. She also worked as an executive assistant in several law and corporate offices.
After her graduation from UNLV, she was a journalist and feature writer for the daily Las Vegas Sun newspaper. In 1996, Merlyn moved to Davis, California, with her husband, Tom, where she held several student advisory positions at the University of California, Davis, until her retirement in 2012.
An avid reader, Merlyn devoured critically acclaimed fiction and as well as literature that focused on human struggles and life's meaning. She was spiritual throughout her life, finding comfort and wisdom in nature, Eastern philosophy, and her Jewish heritage. Her loving and empathetic communication skills resulted in deep and lasting relationships with a vast circle of family and friends throughout her life. Merlyn was an artist whose work spanned a variety of media from watercolor painting to needlework, generously gifting her creations to friends and family. A nester, a decorator and a fashionista, Merlyn's flair for aesthetic beauty and creativity shone in all of her endeavors. An active participant in the 1970's woman's rights movement, she was a feminist throughout her life. She valued nutrition and fitness, serving as a role model to family and friends. Those close to Merlyn frequently saw her silly, often self-deprecating sense of humor.
Merlyn is survived by her husband, Tom, her sons, Kevin Carroll of Reno, Nevada and Ken Carroll of San Francisco, California, her step-daughters, Jamie Rose of San Marcos, California, and Alicia Lyons of Valley Center, California, her sisters, Pamela Monin of Friday Harbor, Washington, Denise Monin Wright of Talent, Oregon, and Kelly Monin Rose of Portland, Oregon, plus nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Graveside services for the immediate family were held on Friday, May 5, at the Davis Cemetery. A Celebration of Merlyn's Life will be held during the summer months. The date and venue will be announced at a future date.
To honor Merlyn, contributions in her name can be made to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance (OCRFA) at https://ocrfa.org .
Born on February 5, 1947 in San Francisco to Victor and Bernice Monin, she spent her early childhood in San Francisco. The family moved to Pacifica, California, in 1954, where she attended elementary and high school, graduating from Terra Nova High School in 1964. Merlyn went on to graduate summa cum laude from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) with a BA degree in Communications in 1994.
For many years before returning to earn her college degree, Merlyn was a homemaker and mother raising her two sons. She also worked as an executive assistant in several law and corporate offices.
After her graduation from UNLV, she was a journalist and feature writer for the daily Las Vegas Sun newspaper. In 1996, Merlyn moved to Davis, California, with her husband, Tom, where she held several student advisory positions at the University of California, Davis, until her retirement in 2012.
An avid reader, Merlyn devoured critically acclaimed fiction and as well as literature that focused on human struggles and life's meaning. She was spiritual throughout her life, finding comfort and wisdom in nature, Eastern philosophy, and her Jewish heritage. Her loving and empathetic communication skills resulted in deep and lasting relationships with a vast circle of family and friends throughout her life. Merlyn was an artist whose work spanned a variety of media from watercolor painting to needlework, generously gifting her creations to friends and family. A nester, a decorator and a fashionista, Merlyn's flair for aesthetic beauty and creativity shone in all of her endeavors. An active participant in the 1970's woman's rights movement, she was a feminist throughout her life. She valued nutrition and fitness, serving as a role model to family and friends. Those close to Merlyn frequently saw her silly, often self-deprecating sense of humor.
Merlyn is survived by her husband, Tom, her sons, Kevin Carroll of Reno, Nevada and Ken Carroll of San Francisco, California, her step-daughters, Jamie Rose of San Marcos, California, and Alicia Lyons of Valley Center, California, her sisters, Pamela Monin of Friday Harbor, Washington, Denise Monin Wright of Talent, Oregon, and Kelly Monin Rose of Portland, Oregon, plus nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Graveside services for the immediate family were held on Friday, May 5, at the Davis Cemetery. A Celebration of Merlyn's Life will be held during the summer months. The date and venue will be announced at a future date.
To honor Merlyn, contributions in her name can be made to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance (OCRFA) at https://ocrfa.org .
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Merlyn Potters, please visit our flower store.
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