Funeral services: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 2:00 pm at the Powder River Congregational Church in Broadus.
Interment: will follow at the Valley View Cemetery in Broadus
Lyndsey Alexis Merchant was born March 28th 1984. Tragedy struck the lives of many when Lyndsey died, April 18th 2008, on her little brother, Jacobs, 9th birthday, in a car accident. Lyndsey grew up on her grandparents ranch near Volborg, She was currently teaching at St. Lebre Indian School in Ashland. She cared deeply about her students. She was eager to become a counsel in order to help the students even more.
Lyndsey attended elementary school at the rural Horkan Creek School and Garfield Elementary in Miles City. She graduated from Powder River County District High School in 2002. Lyndsey was very involved in school, participating in band, volleyball, basketball, track, cheerleading, and FFA. She was also involved in Bridging the Gap, a national community youth development program which increased youth development in urban and rural communities. As a sophmore she attended the Hugh O'Brien youth leadership conference in Missoula and the world leadership conference in Washington, D. C. During her junior year, she attended the national FFA convention in Louisville, Kentucky. She was also chosen to attend Girls State with her close friend, Cris Landa. As a senior, Lyndsey became involved with the AmeriCorps organization and, after graduation, she spent the summer in Flagstaff, Arizona, working as a youth development specialist. Her work included co-training more than forty local and state participants in the Building Community Tool Kit and providing facilitation to a newly formed collaborative called "Grandparents as Parents". Additionally, she helped develop language preservation programs for Hopi and Navajo reservations. While in high school, she was employed at the bowling alley and the movie theatre.
Lyndsey attended the University of Montana and Montana State University-Billings, from which she graduated in 2007 with a B.S. in English and a certificate of Secondary Education. During college, she did her student teaching at Huntley Project High School in Worden, Montana. She was also an assistant track coach and coached junior high volleyball at Huntley Project. Lyndsey worked her way through college at Texas Roadhouse, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Old Chicago. She was also a MOA volleyball referee, Special Olympics track coach, and a nationally certified English tutor.
Throughout high school and college, she traveled extensively throughout the United States, including several trips to Washington, D.C. Reflecting on her travels, Lyndsey said "One of the most incredible, humbling experiences of my life was standing on the Capitol lawn on the 4th of July listening to our national anthem being played and knowing that there was no better place to be celebrating our nation's independence."Lyndsey most recently traveled to Ireland. While there, she had an experience that greatly affected her. Reflecting on a bicycle tour through part of Ireland, she describes "the happiest moment I have experienced." She related, "It was then, while looking over the beautiful coastline into the vast Atlantic Ocean that I experienced an immense feeling of peace and serenity." She wondered if she would ever be privileged enough to have that experience again. In her words, "It is comforting to hold that hope close to my heart and also to know this experience was unique to me and will last a lifetime."
Lyndsey was currently employed as a high school English teacher at St. Labre Indian School. She was also an assistant basketball and track coach. The care and concern she felt for her students was evident in her interactions with them. She marveled at the complexities of their personalities and her hope was to be able to truly make a difference in their lives.
Lyndsey is survived by her Mother Linda Merchant and Bill Cannon, Grandparents Dallas and Betty Merchant all of Volborg.
Lyndsey also blessed the lives of her father Jessie Adams, stepmother Dionne Adams, and little brother Jacob Adams all of Billings. Although she was part of their lives for only 6years she brought them much joy. A daughter, love, dreams, aspirations. Lyndsey is also survived by many, many friends, family, and her students. We all will miss her forever and always.
Lyndsey touched so many lives in her short time here. Blessing each and everyone of them. She will never be forgotten.
Lyndsey was preceded in death by: paternal great-grandparents: Howard and Dora Merchant; maternal great-grandparents: Anthony and Mary Janutis; Her very special great-aunt Frankie Watts, and her stepsister, Kendra Rose Adams.
We love you beautiful child.
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Broadus has been entrusted with the arrangements.
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