Cleo Silvers Merrill passed away March 9, 2003 in Santa Cruz at
age 91.
Cleo Silvers Merrill passed away March 9, 2003 in Santa Cruz at age 91.
She was born Feb. 21, 1912 in Webster City, Iowa. She was a 10th generation Mayflower descendent and a descendent of the pioneering Silvers and Crosby families of Iowa.
She moved with her family to Gilroy, from Iowa, in 1947. She worked for the Gilroy Dispatch in advertising and was a member of the Business and Professional Women’s Association. In 1957, she moved to Altadena where she worked for the La Canada Valley Sun in advertising sales and feature writing. Cleo also wrote freelance articles for many publications.
In 1966, she and her husband Henry Merrill, moved to Aptos to be near family. She was an active member of the Dominican Hospital Auxiliary for many years. She enjoyed gardening, bird watching, reading, crossword puzzles and photography. She baked her own bread for years and was an accomplished and creative cook. She created many beautiful needlepoint pieces and was a talented crafter and seamstress. Two years before her death she acquired a computer and enjoyed keeping in touch with family and friends by e-mail and instant messaging. She loved searching for information via the Internet and always found something of interest to explore.
Mrs. Merrill is survived by her husband of 45 years, Henry Merrill of Aptos and daughters Judy Scagliotti, Nancy Valencia (Steve), Mona Berman (Mel) of Gilroy. She was preceded in death by her daughter JoAnn and seven siblings. She is also survived by grandchildren, Debra Richards (Michael), Mark Filice (Nikki), Wendy Strametz (Jeff), Jeannie Filice-Hollar (Ryan), Brian and Erin Berman, all of Gilroy, Stephen Bonesio (Betty Jean) of Orland, Nanette Filice (Johnny Eller) of Soquel; great-grandchildren, Lisa Bonesio of Corning, Sarah Amaral (Derrick) of Edwards Air Force Base, Peter Bonesio of Kingman, Ariz. and Cori Pfeffer of New York, Chelsea Richards, Kevin Pfeffer, Caitlin, Riley and Joshua Filice-Hollar, Jeremy and Cheyenne Strametz, Sommer and Siena Filice, all of Gilroy; and great-great grandchildren, Robyn and Nicole Bonesio, Brant Lowe, Kameron and Ethan Amaral. She is also survived by her sister Verna Stevens of Iowa, sister-in-law Renee Silvers of Arkansas, step grandchildren, Frank Lindstrom (Lois) of Minnesota, Diane Troutman (Joe) of Iowa, and many nieces and nephews.
Cremation conducted by the Habing Family Funeral Home. Family and friends will gather Saturday, March 22 from 2 to 5 p.m., 7561 Kentwood Court, to celebrate Mrs. Merrill’s life. Call 842-8853 for details.
