Meri Lynne Kittelson Obituary (1935

Meri Lynne Kittelson, 79, of Yakima died January 2, 2015. She was born October 1, 1935 in Lemmon, North Dakota to Violet Bradford and Everett Kittelson. Meri Lynne and her family relocated to the Yakima Valley when she was a small child. Having begun her postsecondary education at Yakima Valley Community College, she graduated in 1967 from the University of Washington with a BA in Elementary Education. She held a NCATE University Provisional Certificate. Her major academic field for this accreditation was English. Meri Lynne loved children, and assigned great importance to their education. She taught in parochial schools in Seattle, WA and Portland, OR. Years after leaving her class, many students would return to her and say, 'I always remembered what you taught us: that we could do whatever we wanted as long as we accepted the consequences. Knowing that helps me think through my decisions more carefully.' After her teaching career, Meri Lynne worked at the Yakima Tennis Club, and spent nearly as much time on the courts as in the office. She was active in our community, frequently attending city council meetings and lending a hand on community projects like the Farmer's Market. While she did not have children of her own, Meri Lynne invested much time and many resources helping to raise kids throughout our extended family. Three generations of cousins have fond memories of traveling downtown with Meri Lynne on the bus, attending civic events and talking long into the evening about whatever questions on whatever subject arose in a young mind. We are smarter, more curious and more well-read having grown up with Meri Lynne's encouragement. Meri Lynne is survived by her brother Charles and numerous cousins. There are no public services.