Louise M. 'Merkel' Bellaire Obituary (1913

Louise M. Bellaire of Saranac Lake, NY died peacefully at home on January 13th. She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on December 28, 1913, and was the daughter of William and Fanny (Brown) Merkel. Mrs. Bellaire graduated from Duke University and went to work for Scudder, Stevens and Clark, a New York investment firm. She relocated to Portland, Oregon to assist her parents during their last years and to work for the leadership of Equitable Savings and Loan. She then moved to Saranac Lake where she had been resident since 1951. Mrs. Bellaire was active in many community and civic activities. She was one of the first employees of the newly founded North Country Community College and served as assistant to the president for many years. She also served on the school and hospital boards, and was active in the consolidation efforts that eventually joined the General Hospital of Saranac Lake and Lake Placid Memorial Hospital to form the Adirondack Medical Center. She was a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church from the time of her arrival in the North Country and was on the St. Luke's Vestry. Mrs. Bellaire's volunteer activities were many and she continued them well into her 80's. She volunteered for Meals on Wheels, the Saranac Lake Day Care Center, the Adirondack Free Library, Adirondack Medical Center, the Budget Box, and the American Field Service student exchange program. She is survived by one son David Bellaire and his wife Karen of Atlanta, GA, one daughter Jean Kivlen and her husband Patrick of Onchiota, NY, and five grandchildren (Michael, Evan and Benjamin Kivlen, and Laura and Christopher Bellaire). She was preceded in death by Dr. Richard Bellaire, and her siblings, Jean Deghuee of Foxfire, NC and George Merkel of La Jolla, CA. Funeral arrangements are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. A memorial service will take place at 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 24, 2009 at St. Luke's The Beloved Physician Episcopal Church in Saranac Lake. Reverend Frederick Dennis will officiate. A reception will immediately follow the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, friends wishing to remember Louise Bellaire may make memorial contributions either to St. Luke's Episcopal Church or to the Adirondack Medical Center in care of the funeral home.