Colleen was born March 17,1953, in Bothell, Wash., to Frank and Helen Nardone. She lived in Bothell her entire life until a year ago when she moved to her dream home in Moses Lake to be closer to her grandson.

Growing up, her passion was horses, competing in events, such as barrel racing on her horse Smokey at Bothell Evergreen Saddle Club. She attended school in the Northshore School District from kindergarden through Bothell High School.

Colleen raised her three children when they were very young on her own, supporting them with many jobs. She tended bar at Alexander’s in Bothell, worked as a waitress and in a candy factory before starting a career in outside sales where she was consistently one of the top 10 percent of the company’s sales force, winning many awards, trips and prizes.

While she and her kids didn’t have a lot of material things, they had each other and they made their own fun.

When her circumstances changed, Colleen would often donate gift and food baskets to the food bank. She included her kids because she wanted to teach them to always help others and to give back to those who helped them.

In 1992 Colleen reconnected with her high school sweetheart, Don Mercer, and they meshed their two families into one. They have been married for 11 years.

She had a love of many things, especially flowers and gardening, a love and skill she learned from her father. Any house she lived in had a beautiful landscaped yard full of flowers, plants, trees, vegetables and bulbs. She loved being outdoors.

Colleen also loved animals. Her miniature horse Black Beauty, goat Dolly and her beloved Yorkie Sparky always gave her great joy.

Colleen was an avid sports fan. She loved the Gonzaga Bulldogs basketball team, the Seattle Mariners and local school sports. Colleen enjoyed watching all four of her kids compete in their many sports, also attending most of her nephews’ and nieces’ games.

For many years she coached T-ball and softball for Northshore Little League, teaching young kids the love of the game.

Colleen had a special gift with very young children. All were drawn to her as she was to them.

Colleen was preceded in death by her father, Frank. She is survived by her mother, Helen, of Redmond, Wash.; her husband, Don Mercer, of Moses Lake; her sons, Jesse Burget of Moses Lake, Adam Landa of Goodyear Ariz., and Brian Mercer (Sarah) of Bothell; her daughter, Carrie Lango (William) of Kenmore; her grandsons, Cody Burget of Moses Lake and Ashton Mercer of Bothell.

She is also servived by her brother, Ron Nardone; her sisters, Kathy Roach, Karen Fritzke and Carol Bus; and many aunts, uncles, nephews, great nephews, nieces, great neices, cousins and friends.

Colleen was a loving mother, wife, grandmother, daughter, sister, niece, aunt and friend — a truly beautiful person both inside and out. She will always be loved, always be missed, but never will she be forgotten.

A memorial service was held at Bothell First Lutheran with burial at Floral Hills.

Remembrances can be made in Colleen’s name to the American Cancer Society.

Please visit Colleen’s online guest book at www.legacy.com.