Meredith “Merry” Elaine Larson Hobbins, 88, died early Christmas morning, December 25, 2013, unexpectedly from an aneurism. She was happy and celebrating Christmas at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Kristi and Bruce Abplanalp, who were also her best friends.Merry enjoyed her long life. She was the youngest of the three beautiful and beloved Larson daughters. She was born to Ted and Nellie Larson on May 9, 1925 in Algona, Iowa. After graduating from high School she worked at a farm implement store wearing coveralls and selling tractors and other farm equipment to save enough money to go to nursing school at St. Luke’s in Chicago where she received her RN degree. One of her fondest memories while at school was when her mother would put her birthday cake on the train in Algona in western Iowa and she would pick it up at the train station in Chicago the next day. She met her former husband, William Hobbins (divorced in 1972), when he was in medical school. They married and lived for eight years in Chicago. Meredith loved Chicago and big cities in general. Although Merry did receive her RN she often commented how in the 1940’s she could make more money to support her small family through her executive secretarial skills. In later years, she used to entertain her kids by typing what they asked her to with her eyes closed.William and Merry moved back to Madison in 1956. Merry raised her six children in the loving and welcoming homes she created in Maple Bluff. These homes were filled with cats, dogs, and kids and their noise was always music to her ears.Merry loved the arts and traveled the world, curious about everything. Some of her fondest memories were several summers she packed up her large family into one of the first Dodge motor homes and traveled around a section of the US, Canada, or Mexico, while the five or so kids sat in the “bus” watching the countryside go by. She loved people and people were drawn to her. She would help whoever needed it. As a young housewife who wanted to give back to her community she volunteered at the Wisconsin Diagnostic Center, which is now the Waisman Center on the UW-Campus. She could not bear to see children struggle and volunteering was one way she felt she could help. After the divorce she worked for the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) in Madison, WI for 17 years.She was an avid reader and read the paper every day; always paid close attention to politics and had strong opinions. She was a beautiful seamstress and needle pointer. She loved her flowers in the summer and the small country home she built in Holmen, WI, just up the coulee from Kristi and Bruce, with whom she shared a deep love for the Green Bay Packers. Most of all Merry cherished her children: William Hobbins (Paulette) Parker, CO; Kristi Abplanalp (Bruce) Holmen, WI; Deborah Hobbins (David Mladenoff) Madison, WI; Cynthia Hobbins (Michael Gosenski) Cave Junction, OR; Theodore Hobbins (Sarah) La Crosse, WI; Richard Hobbins (Marina DiFruscia) Talent, OR. She also treasured her grandchildren, Meagan (Hobbins) Randall (Kevin), Samantha Abplanalp, Courtney (Abplanalp) Hyttinen (Josh); Cole Abplanalp (Stephanie), Isak Mladenoff, Emily Harris, Taylor Harris, and six wonderful great grandchildren: Genna and Alina Randall, Gabriel and Alexander Hyttinen, and Zoe and Ali Abplanalp. The entire family is so grateful to Kristi and Bruce for the extraordinary care and friendship they gave our mom and grandma over so many years.Merry was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Teddy Fisher and Maxine Gormley, and her beloved grandson William Lars Hobbins.Of course we already miss her deeply but feel very fortunate to have had Merry as our loving and doting mother for as long as we did. When telling people how to spell her name she would say, “Merry, like in Merry Christmas” so it’s kind of endearing she died on Christmas Day.In lieu of flowers, if you would like to make a contribution in honor of Merry’s wonderful life please consider a contribution to NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill), 3803 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203. www.nami.org