Merrilyn D. Hart Houghton

Merrilyn Dexter Hart Houghton was born on January 26, 1943 in Winchester, MA and died at the age of 81 on July 27, 2024 in Bellingham, WA after enduring an almost four-year battle with colon cancer. She was born to Merrill Dexter Hart and Jean Winchester and is survived by three sisters, Suzie, Lisa, Marcia but lost her brother Paul.

Merrilly was married to Maurice Houghton (Reece) for 44 years and between them they have 6 children. They are Cindy Leanne Johnson, Leonard Dick Tripp, Joshua Walter Nielsen, Rissa Ann Capshew, Brett James Houghton and Lori Michelle Crissinger. She has 17 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Merrilly and Reece met through their work in early 1980 and after numerous chance meetings they fell in love and married in November of that year. They experienced a hiccup in their marriage and divorced in 1985 and re-married in 1988 and were happily together until her passing.

Merrilly was a consummate arts and crafts person and particularly liked tole painting, needle work, crocheting for her family and frequented all the local craft fairs. They were both affiliated with the Newcomers Club of Bellingham and she served 6 years as a Board member in charge of social activities and membership. She loved her family deeply and treated each person as an entity among themselves. She was also very fond of her miniature Dachshunds, Max and Copper.

Merrilly and Reece want to express their tremendous respect, reverence and gratitude to the Whatcom Hospice Foundation who made the last almost fours years the best they could be.