Florence Irene Mershon, 80, of Rancho Bernardo went to be with her Lord on October 3, 2013. Born in Chula, Missouri, Flo retired after working for 18 years as a merchandiser with Hallmark, Inc. Earlier, she served as a cafeteria manager in the Sweetwater School District. She resided in numerous states throughout her life as a Navy wife. Some of her hobbies included scrapbooking, traveling, spoiling her great/grandchildren, and enjoying her plants and flowers in her backyard. Her dream to visit all fifty states was realized in June of this year when she took a cruise to Alaska with her son Bill and daughter Evie. Her husband, Eugene LeRoy Mershon, preceded her in death on July 13,2000.
Survivors include her daughter Evie (Bob) Arend of San Diego, son Mike of Seattle, and son Bill of Tacoma; "daughter" Ginger (Jens) Jantzen of Phoenix; grandchildren Jeffrey Kole of Kansas City, and Kristy Lynn of Sacramento; "grandchildren of the heart," BJ ()Megan) Nativo of McKinleyville, Cara (Jason) Roddy of Long Beach, Julie (John) Benn and Josh (Malea) Arend of San Diego.
Great grandchildren include Bradley Eugene, Sierra Raye, and Tanner William Kole of Colorado, Kaylah and Trever Huff of Sacramento. She is also survived by her sister Joyce Clark of St. Louis, Missouri. She was preceded in death by her siblings--Alice Faye, Reginald Jr., Francis Gene, and James William Garr.
Memorial donations can be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718. Condolences may be left in Flo's online guestbook, www.florence-irene-mershon.forevermissed.com. "Mom" will be greatly missed by those who knew her kind and loving nature, but in God's divine plan, as Helen Keller has penned,"what we have once enjoyed we can never lose; all that we love deeply, becomes a part of us."