Elizabeth A. Merriman

Elizabeth A. (Higgins) Merriman age 42 years died in her La Mesa, California home on Friday, July 3, 2009 after a long battle with breast cancer. Born in Boston, Massachusetts on April 13, 1967, Elizabeth grew up in Walpole, Massachusetts. She graduated from Walpole High School with the class of 1985, and went on to graduate from Framingham State College with the class of 1989. After marrying her husband Jerry, the couple lived in Carlsbad, California; Glen Ellyn, Illinois; and most recently in La Mesa, California.

Elizabeth had a generous and passionate spirit. She was a gifted writer with marketing expertise, who worked for Artech House Inc. in Norwood, Grand Circle Travel in Boston, the Pampered Chef in Chicago and, ultimately at her own freelance agency, Emwrite Communications. She dedicated countless hours and energy helping friends and family develop Web sites and marketing materials for their own ventures, and took great pleasure in helping them to succeed. She also had a passion for photography and spent much time walking in the surf at Solana Beach in California, where she photographed beach rocks. A series of her Solana Beach Stone photographs were chosen for public display at the Adams Avenue Grill in San Diego. After she became ill, she would often surprise friends and loved ones, who frequently sent her flowers, with beautiful botanical photographs, taken from their bouquets. She also took great pleasure in her love of animals, especially her own pets, Wrigley, the dog she adopted outside of Wrigley Field in Chicago, and cats Q and Charlotte. Elizabeth was a staunch Red Sox fan, and enjoyed an ongoing rivalry with her beloved Jerry, a Yankees fan.

Elizabeth's courage and fierce loyalty inspired all of those who loved her and were fortunate enough to be her friend. She is the beloved wife of Major Gerard A. "Jerry" Merriman, II (USMC-Ret.); Beloved daughter of Ann (Magennis) and Dr. David Haughey of Walpole and the late Thomas L. Higgins, Jr.; Sister of Andrea Higgins of Walpole, and step sister of David Haughey Jr. of Boston, Richard Haughey of Somerville, Ellen and Frank Giurleo of Connecticut and the late Peter Haughey. Daughter in law of Beverly (Seymour) of Westmoreland, New York and the late Gerard A. Merriman. She also leaves loving and supportive aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends in New England, Chicago and California.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend the funeral service that will be held in the Epiphany Episcopal Church, 62 Front Street Walpole on Friday, July 17, 2009 at 11:00 AM. Visiting hours are Thursday, July 16, 2009 from 4-8PM in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole. Interment will be in Saint Joseph's Cemetery in West Roxbury, Massachusetts. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Elizabeth's name to the "UCSD Foundation" and sent to Moores UCSD Cancer Center, Development Office, 3855 Health Sciences #0658, La Jolla, California 92093-0658.