Iola M. Merritt of Coupeville died April 13, 2004, in Athens, Ga., after a long battle with cancer. She was born Nov. 26. 1919, in Seattle. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Sharlene Shapiro. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law Sharon and Jim Smith of Georgia; son and daughter-in-law Ralph and Carol Hogan of Buckley; a sister, Helen Hibbs of Seattle; six grandchildren and a niece and a nephew.

Ms. Merritt was retired from the U.S. Postal Service in California and had made her home in Coupeville since 1988. She was a member of Whidbey Evangelical Free Church.

A memorial will be held at her church Tuesday, May 11, at 7 p.m. Memorials may be made to Whidbey Evangelical Free Church, 874 Plantation Drive, Greenbank WA 98253.