[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 77 (Thursday, May 20, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E899]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               HONORING THE LIFE OF EDNA MERLE WILKINSON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN GARAMENDI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 20, 2010

  Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of my 
mother-in-law, Edna Merle Wilkinson, who passed away May 19th, 2010. I 
ask all my colleagues to join me in recognizing the many outstanding 
achievements of Merle during her lifetime.
  Merle Wilkinson touched the lives of many with dedication and grace. 
Evidenced since her early childhood, Merle's driven and compassionate 
nature laid the foundation for a legacy of inspiration to all who knew 
her.
  Merle's drive led her to be awarded the American Legion Award for 
leadership, courage and academic excellence at her high school in 
Watsonville, CA. There she was also elected Student Body Secretary, 
served as the captain of the field hockey team, and was a competitive 
ice skater. After high school, Merle attended business college and was 
a legal assistant to the Superior Court Judge in Salinas, CA before 
marrying her life partner, John E. Wilkinson, the son of the founder of 
Granite Construction Company Walter J. Wilkinson. Together, Merle and 
John built the highway and road construction firm into one of the 
largest companies in its field today.
  With great compassion and a heart of service, Merle became known for 
her community involvement. She was active in the Eastern Star and the 
Johnny Appleseed Auxiliary where she hosted fundraisers for local 
charities. Merle was a founder of the Lady Bugs Auxiliary in Stockton, 
an organization that supports the developmentally disabled, as well as 
an avid supporter of the American Diabetes Association. Her desire to 
brighten the lives of others was so strong that, if there was ever a 
time when Merle could not be found, she was most likely taking 
casseroles to the families of cancer patients, as she often liked to 
do.
  Merle's greatest source of pride and happiness, though, was her 
family--her three daughters Susan, Patti and Nancy, and her 12 
grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren that survive her today. Merle 
always put family first, and I am forever grateful for her gift of a 
mother's eternal love.
  Madam Speaker, while it is with great sadness, I am truly honored to 
recognize and pay tribute to a woman who has had such a positively 
profound impact on my life and the lives of so many others. I ask all 
of my colleagues to join with me in recognizing Merle Wilkinson's 
lifetime of achievements.

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