November 10, 1930 – August 14, 2023
Merriel Elaine McMacken Zimmer passed into her Lord’s loving arms on August 14, 2023 at 92 years old. She was born in Mobridge on November 10, 1930 to Francis and Bertha McMacken. She was the eldest of eight children.
Merriel graduated from Timber Lake High School in 1948. She spent most of her early life on a farm in South Dakota raising her four children with her husband, Jack Jewett.
They moved to Arizona in 1972 where she held several careers. She attained her real estate license and soon became a travel agent where she got to travel to many countries and see the world.
In 2001, she reconnected with a high school sweetheart, Lyle Zimmer, and they married on July 13, 2002. They spent the next eight years crafting and enjoying life together. Lyle passed away in 2010.
Merriel enjoyed exercising her many artistic talents that consisted of playing the piano, painting, ceramics, enameling, stained glass, and jewelry design. She participated in several art shows where she won many awards for her paintings. She was also the Arizona state arm wrestling champ in 1981.
She was survived by her son Kent Jewett; daughters Kelly Charvoz (Mike) and Shar Jewett; granddaughter Amy Clancy; grandson Chris Charvoz; great-grandson Brennan Clancy; stepdaughters Diane Gergen (Paul), Katheryn Driscoll (Jim), and Julie Sessor (Jan); stepsons Allen Zimmer and Jack Zimmer; sisters Ellen Wilhelm, Betty Schweitzer, and Bonnie Yuker; brother Marvin McMacken (Connie); brother-in-law Paul Stradinger; sister-in-law Connie McMacken; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Lyle Zimmer, daughter Joyce MacKenzie, sister Faye Stradinger, brothers Robert McMacken and Joe McMacken, and stepson Gary Zimmer.
She will be remembered as a kind, generous and loving woman who will be greatly missed by all who knew her.