Born on March 14, 1958 “Pie day” in Norfolk, NE to parents Emil and Margaret (Davidson) Mastny, she grew up on a farm outside Stanton, NE, starting her education in a one-room schoolhouse. She believed hard work and dedication would provide fruitful results and that belief carried forward in many aspects of her life. As a single parent, she raised three strong and confident girls: Francesca, Jacqualyn, and Raschelle.
Merrily never made a meal or dessert that wasn’t award winning and she was famous for her homemade pies. Merrily was also a passionate gardener and her green thumb made her the envy of everyone at the local farmer’s market where she sold her home-grown products and baked goods. Her eye for design and love of flowers led her to be a florist with fresh and silk flowers for several years.
Later in life Merrily also found a natural talent for drafting. She went back to school and earned a degree in architectural drafting with honors from Northeast Community College in 2010. Her dedication and hard worked earned her awards and accolades, including a 4.0 GPA, President’s Honor List, Deans List, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society membership, and an 2010 All-Nebraska Community College Academic Team member.
Survivors include two daughters: Francesca Davis of Grand Island and Raschelle (Brad) Drumheller of Fort Calhoun and five grandchildren: Emil and Emily Davis of Grand Island, Britton and Willow Drumheller of Fort Calhoun, and Jordan Milledge of Havre, MT.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Emil and Margaret Mastny, and daughter Jacque Van Buren.
A celebration of Merrily's life will be scheduled at a later date this Spring. Memorials may be made in her name to the Bethlehem House in Omaha.
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