Kara Lee Merrell, 57, passed away at home on August 7, 2018 in Anchorage, Alaska.  Kara was born on May 23, 1961 in Seattle, Washington.  She attended Trinity College in Washington DC, was a member of Phi Beta Kappa Scholar Society and graduated Summa Cum Laude.  She received her Bachelor of Arts Degrees in International Relations and International Economics.

Kara moved to Alaska in November of 1985 and lived in Juneau, Ketchikan, and Valdez and most recently in Anchorage.  She worked for Shearson Lehman Brothers in Juneau from 1985 -1990, Diversified Investments in Ketchikan from 1994-1997 and the State of Alaska in Anchorage from 2008 -2018.

She was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Valdez, was on the board from the American Cancer Society and on the Board of Directors for the Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation in Anchorage. Kara enjoyed mothering, reading, quilting and outdoor activities.

“Kara’s remembered for her big, caring heart, her quick wit and warm smile.  She immediately put people at ease.  She was truly an awesome and inspiring lady that taught by example in its simplest sense.  Rest in Peace our sweet, sweet angel.”

Kara is survived by her husband Geoff Merrell, daughter Olivia Merrell and son Luc Merrell of Anchorage; parents Astri  and Jerry Summer; and her siblings Gus Mouton of Seattle, Jeffrey Summer of Poughkeepsie, New York, Mike Summer of Shoreline, Washington and Teani Graver of Everett, Washington. Kara was preceded in death by her father Lee Moulton. Services were held on Sunday, August 12at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church.