Merrie Gale Lewis
POLSON — Merrie Gale Lewis, 58, of Polson, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Jan. 4, at her home. Merrie was born July 10, 1955, in Billings, to Virgil Escoe Lewis and Billie LaFern Brown. She grew up in Billings and when she was sixteen years old her family moved to Kalispell where she graduated from Evergreen High School in 1975.
In June 1994, she met her beloved companion and friend Craig Padilla. In 1998 they built their home on Mud Lake Trail.
Merrie had a kindred spirit and a love for life. She always had encouraging words with a sincere concern for family, friends and co-workers. Whether friends or family or someone she just met, she always had kind words. Merrie had such a giving heart with sincere intentions. She had the gift of listening to those with words that needed to be heard. Those who knew her loved her very much. Her smile, her laugh and her compassion for others, will be greatly missed.
Merrie is preceded in death by her father, Virgil Escoe Lewis; sister Sherl (Shari) Lynn Adams (Steve); and uncles Robert William and Kenneth Elmer.
She is survived by her husband of 20 years, Craig Padilla; mother Billie LaFern Brown (Adolph) Kohl; stepmother Viola Pinkerman of Polson; aunts Ruth Pinkerman of Polson and Rosemary Jensen of Pasco, Wash.; adopted son Shade Tanner and grandson Shade Jr.; brothers Mark Anthony of Portland, Ore., and Steven Escoe (Terri) of Belgrade, Wash.; and nieces and nephews Jason, Emily, and Alicia; great niece Lucy Ella; and cousins Debbie, Karen, Mary, Kari, Lisa and Kenneth Paul (Kip) Giles.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Salish Kootenai College Angel Fund. Services have been held. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com.
