Obituary

Virginia Merriman
February 10, 1925--November 26, 2022 (age 97)

Longtime Pendleton resident and business owner Virginia Livingston Merriman died Saturday, Nov. 26, in her room at McKay Creek Estates. She was born Feb. 10, 1025, in St. Louis, Missouri. She was 97.

Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Roy Merriman; their youngest daughter, Kathleen Mae Merriman; brothers, Woodrow (Dora) and Drexel (Ann); her sister, Irene (Eugene Nash and their children Ron Nash and Carolyn Nash Birrer); as well as her mother, Nora Mae (Woody) Livingston; great granddaughter Emily Reedy; and father, Guy Livingston.

Virginia and Ed grew up in the 1930s during the Great Depression. Virginia lived in Twin Falls, Idaho, and Ed lived in nearby Buehl, Idaho. His father, Frank, was employed as a railroad mail handler, so he was better off than most, and he owned a car. On Friday or Saturday nights, Ed borrowed the car and drove to Radio Rondevoo dance hall in Twin Falls. That's where he and Virginia met and fell in love in the 1940s, dancing to big swing bands like Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey. Virginia was a senior at Twin Falls High School when she and Ed were married on Oct. 8, 1942, shortly after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, propelling the United States into World War II on Dec. 11, 1941.

After WWII, Ed landed a job in 1949 as manager of the plumbing division at C.C. Anderson's Department Store in Pendleton. Virginia was hired as a bookkeeper at Pendleton Grain Growers, where she later advanced to office manager.

In 1955, Ed and Virginia bought C.C. Anderson's plumbing division and renamed it Merriman Plumbing and Heating. C.C. Andersons subsequently merged with the Bon Marche. Then in 1959, Virginia became pregnant with their sixth child, Robby, and left PGG to become bookkeeper at the couple's growing plumbing business.

To the Cochran twins and other neighborhood children, Virginia was a second mom. She found time on weekends to bake cookies enough for all comers. The Merriman yard became the neighborhood playground, especially on cookie days. Seems like every kid on Northwest Fifth Street knew which door to knock on to get a warm smile and a fresh-baked cookie.

On summer nights, Ed and Virginia loaded up their family and as many neighborhood kids as they would fit into their Chevy station wagon and hauled them all to the drive-in theater. Virginia popped popcorn and brought enough drinks and snacks for the whole crowd.

Virginia also started a Betta Sigma Phi chapter in Twin Falls and helped get a chapter going in Pendleton during the 1950s and 1960s. In her spare time, she volunteered as a Cub Scout Den Mother and a Sunday school teacher at the First Christian Church. She cooked her famous Southern fried chicken for church potluck dinners and picnics with family and friends.

Virginian loved owning a business and she worked tirelessly to help keep their American dream alive. It is a point of pride that Merriman Plumbing and Heating and then Rob Merriman Plumbing have been operating continuously for 67 years. Virginia has been a huge factor in that success.

Before the phrase women's liberation was heard much around Pendleton, Virginia was doing it all. She helped the business survive through good times and bad. Virginia ran the office and did bookwork days at the plumbing shop. When the children got out of school, Virginia came home to help her oldest daughter, Kristy, watch over the younger kids. Virginia usually brought the plumbing bookwork home and spread it out on the kitchen table. Evening time she cleared off the bookwork, cooked and served dinner to her big family, did the dishes with her children, watched a TV show with Ed, put the children to bed with a song for each little one, then got out her sewing machine and sewed dresses for the girls until midnight or 2 a.m.

In the 1980s, after Rob (Robby) graduated from high school, he went to work at the plumbing shop. Virginia and Ed were there leading and coaching Rob on how to do plumbing and run a business.

By the 1990s, Ed and Virginia had changed the company name to Rob Merriman Plumbing, Virginia continued to keep the books, mail billings, do payroll and pay bills. Ed did an occasional service or bid a job until a few months before he died of cancer in August 2001. Virginia, who was 75 by then, finally retired.

During her retirement, Virginia pursued a lifelong passion for painting. Her first painting of wild horses was for her daughter, Cindy, and her last painting featured an Italian courtyard with a red door for her granddaughter, Kelsey.

Virginia enjoyed living at home until well into her 96th year. When she moved into McKay Creek Estates, Virginia made friends with many residents, including her special friend, Roberta Townsend, who at 98 regularly encourage Virginia to join her for meals and companionship in the cafeteria.

Before Ed and Virginia died, they and Rob were proud that the business founded in 1955 survived a generational change and outlasted competitors like P.S. Cook, Wheeler's, Pendleton Plumbing and other plumbing companies that once operated in Pendleton.

Virginia is survived by her brother, Robert (Jeanne) Livingston; children, Kristine (Jerry Reedy), Edward, Charles (Ruth Lapioli), Cynthia (Dave Miller), Robert (Katrina Herd); along with 22 grandchildren, including Kristine's tribe of Tim, Marc, Gina, Seth, Mairie and Joel; Eddy's dynamic duo of Heath and Raime; Charles' clan of David, Ryan, Kevin and Kyle; Cindy's three sons, Brice, Brett and Zach; Kathy's foursome of Michael, Jonathan, Andrew and Kelsey; and Rob's threesome of Jessica, Jeneal and Reece. Virginia is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great-grandchildren, as well as several great-great-grandchildren.

Burns Mortuary of Pendleton is handling services and will be open for viewing of Virginia from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1. A summertime graveside service and celebration of life is planned and will be announced later.