Obituary of Merry Elaine Herrick

Merry Elaine Herrick, 74, of Iowa City, passed away on Wednesday, August 23, 2017, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.  Graveside Service will be 11:30 a.m. on Monday, August 28, 2017, at the Letts Cemetery.  Following the services, a time of food and fellowship will be held at the Letts Community Center.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.lewisfuneralhomes.com.  The Geo. M. Wittich-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services is caring for Merry’s arrangements and her family.

Merry Elaine McKean was born on June 10, 1943, in Columbus Junction the daughter of Clark Clifford and Helen Elaine (Richardson) McKean.  She was a 1961 graduate of Columbus Junction High School and attended Nursing School at the University of Iowa.  On August 27, 1963, she married Richard Herrick.  Merry worked at McKee Button Company and real estate but her primary role was being a homemaker and caring for her family.  She was active at Wesley United Methodist Church and Muscatine Band Boosters.  She was a Master Gardener and a member and past president of the Muscatine Garden Club, where she was a judge at flower shows.  After moving to Iowa City, Merry joined a card group, volunteered at Iowa City Hospice and helped with the Domestic Violence Intervention Program. Merry’s other interests were traveling, reading and her cat, Yum Yum.   

Merry will be deeply missed by her children, Rich Herrick of Madison, Wisconsin and Dan Herrick of Cedar Rapids; mother, Elaine McKean of Muscatine; and her siblings, Sandra Tallent of Colona, Illinois and Virginia “Gin” Hetzler and her husband, Joel of Muscatine.

Merry was preceded in death by her father, two brothers, Carl E. McKean and Clark C. McKean, Jr. and father and mother-in-law, Paul and Jeanette Masonholder.