Beverlee Merrick Thomas died January 15 from kidney disease and multiple myeloma at her home in Ashton, with her family by her side.

She was born April 13, 1936 in Ashton to Charles and Billie Merrick, one of nine children. She spent her entire life living in Ashton and graduated from North Fremont High School in 1954.

In 1954, she met and married Marvin "Buck" Thomas. Together, they had two children, Charles Thomas and Cyndy Thomas Klepinger. The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on the bank of the Henry's Fork in 2004. Beverlee devoted herself to taking care of her family and held Buck's hand as he went home in 2008.

She is survived by her children, three grandchildren, Katie (Chase) Burke; Heidi (Josh) Lanier and Alex Thomas. Beverlee often commented that while she thought being a grandma was good, her "Greats" were a million times better. She fiercely loved her four great-grandchildren: Isabelle, Marley, Cambri and Harper. These four were truly her pride and joy.

After many years of working at the local Ashton bank, Beverlee pursued a life-long dream of going to college. She graduated from Idaho State University and earned a master's degree from Montana State University. She was a counselor for many years in the Fremont County School District.

She was an active member of Rebakahs, an international service-oriented organization and a branch of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Ashton Community Methodist Church. She led the youth group at the church for many years and still kept in close contact with some of the members, whom she held close to her heart.

Beverlee had many interests including quilting, horseback riding and making raspberry jam! In her retirement years, she kept her mind sharp by taking a multitude of extracurricular classes, including art and botany.

She is survived not only by her children and grandchildren but a sister Jene Ueberroth and brothers, Jim (Pearle) and Lynn (Margaret). Many cousins, nieces and nephews will remember her fondly as well.

She is preceded in death by her husband, her daughter-in-law Connie, her son-in-law Brian, her parents, two sisters and three brothers.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 24 at the Ashton United Methodist Church with Pastor John Blower officiating. The family will receive friends from 7 – 8:30 p.m. at the church, Friday, January 23. The family requests rather than flowers that memorial donations be made to the charity of their choice, the Return to Freedom, Wild Horse Preservation and Sanctuary, P.O. Box 926,Lompoc, CA 93438 or Ashton Community Methodist Church , Ashton, ID 83420.