Merilee Lube

Merilee Jean Lube, born Oct. 10, 1948, in Casper, Wyo., died in her sleep on Feb. 22, 2008, at her home in Fort Collins. She was the daughter of Dan and AllaJean Smith Evan. She graduated from Natrona County High School in Casper in 1966. She was a very successful businesswoman in Casper for many years and owned and operated Merilee Crafting. She owned and operated a portrait framing company. She worked in media and public relations for a number of TV and radio stations in Casper. She managed a commercial printing company for a number of years. She and her husband, John, also owned Star Llamas. They were engaged in a breeding operation that contributed to many show quality llamas in the intermountain area. They won a grand champion award at the Denver stock show in 1986. She promoted large craft-sale events for many years in the Casper area. These shows were noted for having as many as 200 different types of crafts. She made many friends in the crafting community. She married Ron Breedlove in 1967. They later divorced. She married Tom Ray in 1972. They later divorced. She married the love of her life, John Lube in 1982, in Jackson, Wyo. The third time was the charm. They moved to Fort Collins in 1993 upon her husband's graduation from the University of Wyoming with a degree in nursing. It is through her diligence and hard work, putting him through school, that he enjoys his present role with Poudre Valley Hospital as an administrative coordinator. She truly cherished his friendship and love and made him what he is today. They renewed their wedding vows in July 2007 to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. From the day they were married, they had a game they played that one would tell the other "I love you more today." Merilee's record for successive days was 16. Through good times and bad, thin or flush, they were always the best of friends and soul mates. Her husband will truly miss her. She involved herself in many charitable organizations while in Casper. Some of the ones she truly loved were the March of Dimes, with which she served on the Casper area board of directors. She was involved in coordinating sponsorship for the Great River Raft that raised a great deal of money for many diverse charities in the Casper area. She was instrumental in bringing to Casper, the Casper Classic. At the time, this was a nationally known professional bicycle stage race. She wrote the race bible that served as the rule book for many of the future races that took place after she and her husband moved to Fort Collins. This competition attracted teams from throughout the United States and Europe. She was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need or down on their luck in both her professional and personal life. She loved to spend time in her flower garden wherever they lived and had many prize winning roses. She loved the mountains of Colorado and spent as much time camping as time allowed. She loved to "craft" and taught classes in many different disciplines. She had a keen eye for interior design and decorating, which could be seen in the many holiday displays she built both inside and outside of her home. She and her husband loved to shop for antiques. They accumulated many and varied pieces of furniture in their efforts. She loved to collect Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls and would shop until she found "the right one" She loved animals and in recent years had become involved with a local Bassett hound rescue organization. Over the years, she loved Brandy, Snifter, Sometimes the Dog, Dogzilla Load Maximus Max, Cleopatra Cleo, Abigail Abby, Daisy Mae, Flower and Trixie. She was particularly attached to their inheritance from her husband's mother, Lesa, who is a mixed breed "Little Black Dog" that is well over 20 years old. Earlier in her adult life, she loved to play softball for a local Casper team and was an excellent pitcher. The team changed her uniform number for every birthday she had. All her teammates called her "Ma" because she was invariably the senior member of her team. She was funny, spunky, creative, intelligent, meticulous, organized and dedicated. She was mischievous, insightful, gregarious and friendly. She never met a stranger. Her husband often said of her that she could find out a complete stranger's life history in an elevator ride. She was gracious, witty, whimsical, stubborn and vibrant. She was generous to fault. She was unique, charismatic, energetic and beautiful. She was petite in stature but could take over a room with her vivacious personality. The decibel level of her sneezing was legendary. She will be sorely missed by her many friends that she made over the years. Once she made a friend with anyone, it was for life and could not be diminished by time or distance. She is survived by her best friend, John Lube of Fort Collins; her daughter, Jeannie Martinson Paul of Frederick, Md.; her grandson, Carter Jon Mikel Martinsen; her son, Jon Thomas Ray of Billings, Mont.; her granddaughter, Addison McKenzie Welsh-Ray; her mother, Jean Schendele, of Billings, Mont.; her sister, Shelley Nauman Rich of Billings, Mont.; her niece and nephew, Megan and Cal Richard Nauman; and her brother, Richard Evans of Gold Coast, Ore., and Burlingame, Calif. She had a special relationship with Oscar and Betty Ray of Casper, Wyo. She also had a very special relationship with her mother-in-law, Amy Lube, who preceded her in death. Services are scheduled for 12 p.m. on Monday at Bohlender Funeral Chapel. Please dress as casually as you like, as she was never comfortable with formality. She was her husband's Blue Jean Baby and forever will be. In lieu of flowers, she would have loved for donations to be made to High Plains Bassett Hound Rescue and Adoption Service. Donations may be made online at www.coloradobassettrescue.com. Friends may send condolences to the family at www.bohlenderfuneralchapel.com.

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Merilee Lube

February 22, 2008