Nov 17, 1954 – Sep 8, 2021
Merrilea Anne Manning passed away at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland, OR, on September 8, 2021 at the age of 66 . A memorial service to honor her life and memory will be held on Saturday, 12/4/21, at 10:30am at 10282 SE Main St Milwaukie, OR 97222.
Merrilea was born in Portland, OR on November 17, 1954 to Harmon and Phyllis (Boyd) Canoy. She was the second of four children, with an older brother, Christopher, a younger sister, Karen, and a younger brother, Bryan. She lived in the same house on N Seneca Street in Portland for her entire childhood. She attended Sitton Elementary School, where she met her life-long friend/adoptive sister Deb Cannon. Merrilea graduated in 1973 from Monroe High School, an all-girls school. In her senior year of high school, Merrilea was elected as the Bethel Queen of the International Order of Job’s Daughters Bethel #4. She was also a lifelong member of Pioneer United Methodist Church, where her parents met and married.
After high school, Merrilea studied accounting at Portland State University; she moved to Southern California shortly after graduating in 1984. Merrilea had three children, Samarah, Kristi, and Michael. The family enjoyed visiting Disneyland and other local amusement parks during their time in California. In January 1994, Merrilea, her children, and her mother Phyllis survived the Northridge Earthquake. In 1998 the family moved back to Oregon, where Merrilea worked as an accountant for KinderCare and later at Nike in Beaverton, OR from which she retired in 2009.
Merrilea loved spending time with her children and providing them with all the experiences that she could. Her son’s desire to join an Akido group at a local lodge brought Merrilea in contact with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Merrilea quickly became an active member in the Peninsula Odd Fellows, Rose City Rebekahs, Golden Rule Encampment, and the Muscovites. She was also an associate member at Samaritan lodge. Merrilea was a Past Noble Grand in both the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, Past Patriarch of the Encampment, and served as the Rebekah Assembly President for the State of Oregon from 2019-2021.
In recent years, Merrilea helped run a local caramel corn business, Sweet Betty, with her friends. She could often be seen at local concerts, county fairs, and the St. Helen’s Spirit of Halloweentown selling popcorn and stopping to talk to friends when they visited the booth.
Merrilea made friends everywhere she went, whether at Odd Fellows, her children’s Girl and Boy Scout troops, or just at the grocery store. Merrilea could talk to her loved ones for hours, and it is these conversations will be missed most of all. Her close friendships were driven by Merrilea’s desire to help people in any way she could. For the past three years, Merrilea would help make weekly brown bag lunches for unhoused communities in Portland. It is estimated that Merrilea made over 12,000 lunches during this time.
Merrilea was predeceased by her father Harmon (May 2012) and mother Phyllis (February 2021). She is survived by her children Samarah Daher, Kristi (Manning) Walker, and Michael Manning; and her siblings Christopher Canoy, Karen Norene, Bryan Canoy, and her lifelong friend and sister Debbie Cannon. Though her life ended too soon, Merrilea’s heart and spirit will be remembered by her family and friends forever. She will be dearly missed by all.
Merrilea is in the care of Skyline Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home, with a private committal date to follow.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.skylinememorialgardens.com for the Manning family.
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