Obituary: Mary Elizabeth Deering Merideth

A Celebration of Life for Mary Elizabeth Deering Merideth will be held at her residence in Carson City from 2 to 5 p.m. May 15, 2011.

Mary died peacefully at home on April 7, 2011. She was born July 27, 1947, in Reno to Quincy Deering and Imogene Deering.

She married John Ramsey Merideth on Dec. 7, 1970 in Virginia City.

Mary was a loving daughter, wife, sister, mother and friend. She had a special place in her heart for children and animals. Mary dedicated her life to her family and was a homemaker after her first child was born. She was incredibly intelligent and well read and instilled a love of learning in all who knew her. She had a wonderful sense of humor and never shied away from a healthy debate, especially with her nephew Avery.

Mary enjoyed spending time with her family, reading, sewing, jewelry and soap making, cooking, and baking. In the last several years she became fascinated with genealogy and one her of proudest moments was when she and John found the grave of her great-great-grandmother Susan Amazon. In the last several months of her life she and John enjoyed taking their granddaughter to visit Nevada's wild horses. She was generous, kind, independent, and strong. Her fiery spirit will live on in all who had the privilege to know and love her.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents Imogene Deering and Quincy Deering.

Mary is survived by her husband and best friend of 40 years, John R. Merideth; son John R. Merideth and partner Nick of Atlanta, Ga.; daughter Jennifer Merideth and Truckee Paxton of Carson City and the joy her life Addi Elizabeth Paxton; sisters Charlotte Richards of Carson City, Debbie Day of Dayton; brothers- and sisters-in-law Lynn and Jeanice Deering of Reno, Roy and Chris Deering of Dayton and Mark and Stephanie Day of Carson City; Maria Henderson of Lampasas, Texas; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.