Merna Joy (Murphy) Young was born February 21, 1940 in Atchison County, MO., the daughter of Ralph and Alice (Wright) Murphy. Merna passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007 in Omaha, Nebraska.

Merna was raised on the family farm near Blanchard, IA., the 7th of 8 children. She attended Pleasant Hills Country School through the 6th grade and Junior High School in Blanchard. She attended Coin High School, graduating in the class of 1958. Merna grew up in the Blanchard United Methodist Church and was involved in the UMYF. Merna was very active in 4-H. She had many projects qualify for the State Fair including State Fair Style Review. As a youth she also enjoyed participating in school or church music programs.

After graduating high school Merna moved to Shenandoah and began work as a secretary for a local auto dealer. She later worked for Associates Finance until 1968 when she took time off work to raise her children, LeAnn Michelle and Jeffrey Joe. When her children started school Merna went back to work at Home Savings and Loan Association later known as First Federal Bank, first as a part-time teller and eventually manger/ loan officer. First Federal was purchased by First Federal Lincoln later known as TierOne Bank and Merna continued to work as Branch Supervisor/Mortgage Loan officer until she retired in May of 2004. Merna proudly spent over 30 years in the banking business and treasured every friend she made along the way.

On January 31,1987 Merna married Duane Young. Merna and Duane lived in Shenandoah until 1989 at which time they moved to Glenwood Iowa. In Glenwood they owned and operated Midwest Lanes Bowling Center until 1998 when Duane retired and sold the business and moved back to Shenandoah.

Merna and Duane enjoyed bowling in both Shenandoah and Glenwood, square dancing and traveling with family and friends. Some of their favorite trips were to Colorado, Mexico, the Ozarks and Branson. After Merna retired she and Duane spent the winter of 2004 traveling through the southwestern states. Merna's favorite things to do was to spend time with her husband and her family. Merna loved family dinners or any opportunity to have everyone together. She especially enjoyed keeping up with all of the grandchildren and their school sporting events and other activities.

Merna is preceded in death by her parents Ralph and Alice (Wright) Murphy: brothers Gerald Murphy and Jimmy Murphy at birth,;her sister Jean Shankel, brothers-in-law; Clifford Shankel, Jack Hutt, Jerry Hatch, Don Coursey, Gratis (Trigger) Nuckolls and Vernon Lawrence, as well as her father-in-law and mother-in-law Lloyd and Marjorie Young.

Merna is survived by her husband Duane; daughter LeAnn Farnsworth and husband Ryan; son Jeff Blackburn and wife Tricia; step-sons Bruce Young and wife Brenda, Scott Young and wife Diane and step-daughter Brenda Myers and husband Pat; grandchildren; Melissa Farnsworth, Jennifer Blackburn, Austin Blackburn, Justin Myers and wife Jennifer, Jeremy Myers, Joshua Myers, William Young, Kenneth Young, Jared McManis and wife Erin, Clayton Young and Bradley Young. Also surviving are sisters, Marjorie Hutt, Maxine Coursey, Lorene Whitehill and husband LeRoy, Janet Luke and husband Marvin and sisters-in-law Deloris Murphy and Carmaletta Lawrence; and many nieces, nephews and a lifetime of friends.

Celebration of life funeral services were held on Saturday, November 10, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Shenandoah. Words of comfort were given by Pat Myers and Rev. Jim Gubser. Music was provided by Michele Kelly. Attending the memory register were Maxine Brennan and Mary Ann Waller. Casket bearers were Justin Myers, Jeremy Myers, William Young, Kenneth Young, Bradley Young, Jared McManis, Joshua Myers, Melissa Farnsworth, Clayton Young, Jennifer Blackburn, and Austin Blackburn. Honorary casket bearers were Neal and Maxine Brennan, Paul and Percilla Lattin, Pam Shepard, Bill Anton, and all Merna's colleagues at TierOne Bank. Ushers were Jim Sligar and Darrell Jones. Interment was in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Shenandoah. The Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.