Meribeth Cecelia Metevia

Spirited, caring and community minded, Meribeth Metevia was born on March 1, 1945 in Essexville, located in Bay County, Michigan, to Floyd Edward & Muriel Virginia (nee Ferry) Metevia. She was raised and educated in the Bay City Public Schools where her musical talents blossomed. Meribeth picked up the clarinet during her elementary years, and often reminisced about her numerous invitations to play at senior centers, garden clubs & other civic groups while in high school. To prepare, her mother would make her practice outside for all the neighborhood to hear. Meribeth remembered the mailman saying he greatly enjoyed hearing her play while on his deliveries. Music eventually paved a career path for Meribeth, and became one of two loves of her life.

Always a high achiever, Meribeth became the first in her family to attend college on scholarship. She received support from Michigan Rehabilitation Services due to a birth defect that left her blind in her left eye. She would go on to complete a Bachelors of Arts degree (BA) in music education from the University of Michigan. Always valued member of the prestigious Symphony Band under the renowned Dr. William D. Revelli, women during were not allowed on the football field, so she was unable to play in the marching band. She toured with the Symphony Band and performed on venue stages throughout the United States, with her favorite at Carnegie Hall in New York City. After graduation, she dedicated her life and career to music education and community performance. She became an inaugural member of the Farmington Community Band for 45+ years and taught instrumental music for the Walled Lake Consolidated School District for 30 years.

Meribeth’s other love was her whippets. In 1973, her housemate Roberta Russ gave Meribeth’s mother the runt of a whippet litter. The pup was sired by Misty Moor’s Chalmondoley, call name “Chummy”. This little lady, named “Angel”, grew an inch and put on a pound a week, eventually becoming a lovely whippet. Angel went on to become a conformation Champion and the first whippet to earn an obedience UD title! Meribeth advocated and fought for recognition of whippets in the “performance “ events - obedience, rally, agility, etc. - even when judges were often not supportive of the breed in the ring.

Meribeth furthered her promotion events advocacy as a trial secretary, treasure and board member of the Michigan Gazehound Association. She and her whippets also began their award-winning streak. When agility was introduced, she trained and competed in several organizations including AKC, NADAC, and the Michigan based Canine Performance Events (CPE). Meribeth’s whippet boy “Lucky” was the 1st whippet and 36th dog to earn a C-ATCH (CPE Agility Trial Champion), and Meribeth was the 1st handicapped handler to earn a C-ATCH on January 31, 2004. On November 20, 2018, Meribeth’s “Mindy” reached another CPE 1st for whippets when she earned the organization’s highest honor- the C-ATE (CPE Agility Team Extraordinaire) with handler Michelle Holmes. All these wins gained attention from several media sources. Meribeth’s whippets appeared in Clean Run magazine, the Ann Arbor News, and in TV spots promoting the breed.

Meribeth is survived by her whippet kids Sassy, Jackpots, & Cate; friends, colleagues and hundreds of music students who have carried her musical lessons with them throughout the years. A memorial scholarship has been established in her name to recognize students furthering their education, in music or animal sciences, with the Legacy Scholarship Foundation, Inc.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm at the Union Lake Chapel of the Elton Black and Son Funeral Home. 1233 Union Lake Road in White Lake. Burial will take place on Thursday, July 25, 2024 at 2:00 pm at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Bay City.

Making a tax-deductible contribution to the Legacy Scholarship Fund managed scholarships is easy. Donate online at www.wlcsd.org/families/scholarships/legacy-scholarship-fund/donate or write a personal or business check to “LSF-Meribeth C. Metevia Scholarship” and mail it with your completed Donation Form to:

Legacy Scholarship Funds, Inc.

Suite C

3095 S. Commerce Rd.

Walled Lake, MI 48390