Merelene Marks Obituary

ELKO - Merelene Kay Marks, 71 years of age, beloved mother, wife and friend, passed away Thursday, March 30, 2023 in Elko, Nevada, after a two-year battle with metastatic lung cancer.

Merelene (Mert) was born in Fruita, Colorado on September 27, 1951 to Levi M. and Clara (Briggs) Satterfield. She was raised and lived throughout Central Colorado, attending grade school and high school in Grand Mesa/Plateau Valley, Debeque and Eagle, where she was an accomplished student and cheerleader. She met her husband of 52 years, Danny Allen Marks, in high school. After high school they moved to Denver, Colorado where their only son, Joshua Lee Emerson Marks, was born. Together they spent time in Gypsum and Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and Moab, Utah, before settling down in Cortez, Colorado. In 1991, after a two-year stay in Grand Junction, CO, they moved to Elko, Nevada where she and Danny currently reside.

Throughout her life, Mert had many accomplishments including earning her Associate degree in business. She worked most of her career in insurance as an office manager, claims adjuster and secretary with State Farm Insurance. Later, she made a career change and became an employee for the State of Nevada as a dispatcher for the Department of Transportation, from which she retired in 2021.

One of Mert's favorite activities was playing softball. She established and coached a women's team in Cortez that was undefeated for several years and even beat the repeat state champions twice in one tournament. She founded the tournament titled "We the People" with 36 year, Colorado House of Representative, Congressman Wayne Aspinall. Mert was often referred to as "one of the best and toughest short stops" by those who played with and against her. Her toughness being obvious when she refused to leave the game after having her front teeth knocked out...TWICE.

After her softballs days, she became the biggest fan of her son, and many "adopted" kids she knew over the years, supporting them in every sport you could think of. She loved the outdoors, hunting and fishing and was an avid reader. Later in life she enjoyed and became quite good at arts and crafts, making and gifting everything from afghans to holiday wreaths.

One of her greatest joys was seeing her only son married to Robin Bartlett, whom she adored, and the birth of and time spent with her grandson, Emerson Kay Marks.

Merelene is survived by her husband, Danny; son, Josh (Robin), and grandson, Emerson; sisters: Marion Rhodes, Clara Faye Story, and Linda (Vern) Kingsley; sister-in-law, Rose Satterfield, and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her father and mother; brother, Harry Satterfield; and sisters: Elsie Satterfield, Margaret Lee Drake, Vera Mae Altenbern, Evelyn Satterfield, and Teenie Story.

Memorial services were held at Burns Funeral Home, Elko, Nevada, April 7, 2023. A burial service will take place in Crawford, Colorado, date and time to be determined.