Lee Yvonne Merryman

Lee Yvonne Merryman

Lee Yvonne Merryman passed away peacefully on June 8 In La Quinta, with her son, Mitch Moldenhauer, holding her hand.    She was 89 years old.  Lee was born on March 21, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois to Irma Petru (Kadic) and Col. Frank Lambert Petru.  Her sister, Pattie (Hulme) was her dearest friend throughout her life.  After WWII, the family moved to Pacific Palisades, CA, while Frank was overseas serving with the Counter Intelligence Corp.  Lee graduated from University High in Los Angeles, and the University of Southern California, where she was a member of the Delta Gamma sorority, and remained a USC fan her entire life.  After graduation, she married Fred Moldenhauer (a USC grad) in 1954 and moved to Palos Verdes Peninsula where they raised two sons, Frederick Michael and Frank Mitchell.  Lee married Bob Merryman in 1965, and lived in Newport Beach, where they attended Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa and Mariner’s Church.  Bob and Lee enjoyed leading Bible studies and meeting many wonderful Christian friends. On January 30, 1971, life changed dramatically for Lee and her entire family as her son, Mike, (15 years old) was involved in a tragic accident that caused a traumatic brain injury.  Mike’s recovery was widely reported in the local, regional and even national news.   Because few survived these injuries at that time, Lee knew she needed to find a way to help not only Mike, but so many others.   She founded High Hopes Head Injury Program, which is still in existence today, thanks to so many devoted supporters.   Bob and Lee moved to La Quinta in 1990 to be closer to family and joined Palm Desert Community Presbyterian Church, which became the center of their lives.   Lee loved the Lord Jesus Christ with all her heart.  Her strong faith sustained her through her life and death and is now fulfilled in His glorious presence forever.   Our family and her many friends will be forever blessed by her love and constant prayers.  She is survived by her two sons, Mike, Mitch (Anne), grandsons, Frank and Paul, stepdaughter Nancy (Howard), grandchildren Bill, Lindsey and Michael, stepson Tom (Brenda), grandchildren, Christy, Matthew and Mikey.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob Merryman and her sister, Pattie Hulme.   

A Memorial Service will be held Sunday, July 14, at 11:30 AM, at Palm Desert Community Presbyterian Church, 47-321 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA 92260.   Reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Lee’s memory to Palm Desert Community Presbyterian Church (https://www.pdpresby.org/) or High Hopes Head Injury Program (https://highhopes.ws/), 2953 Edinger Avenue, Tustin, CA 92780