Merlyn (Riles) Kouw

Mrs Merlyn Riles Kouw, age 87, passed at her daughter’s home in Pickwick on January 7, 2026. Merlyn was born in Arkansas to John Preston and Mable (Morgan) Riles on Sept 30, 1938. 
She worked as a private nurse’s aid having taken care of several prominent people in Michigan. After moving to Michigan she met and married Wilbur “Bill” Kouw.   She was saved in a little Baptist Church and in moving and living in different places attended several different churches including Baptist, Presbyterian, and Pentecostal. She loved to cook good ole time country food for her friends and family when they visited. 
She leaves behind her children Sherri ( Monty) McCaughan of Pickwick, and John Edwin Morgan (Carrie) of Montague , Michigan, her siblings, Elizabeth Palenik of Hamburg Arkansas, and Mary Lavada Rich of Cool Springs, Texas. She also leaves her grandchildren Spencer (Brianna) McCaughan, Blake McCaughan, Cameron Morgan, and Greer Margaret Morgan, her step grandchildren, Curtis (Josie) Eppard, Cole ( Danielle) Eppard and Ashley McCaughan, her great grand son Bentley McCaughan, her step great grand children Caden and Allee Eppard.  

Merlyn is preceded by her parents John Preston and Mable (Morgan) Riles, and her husband Wilbur “Bill” Kouw, several siblings, nieces, and nephews.
A Memorial Service is being planned and will be announced at a later date. Burial will be in Lakewood Cemetery in Holland Township, Michigan.                                                                      Our family at Associated are very honored and grateful to have been chosen to serve the Kouw family.  

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