Merlene Ruth Chaudoin

Merlene Ruth Salmon Chaudoin was born August 13, 1940, in Aurora, Nebraska to (Raymond) Merle and Iona Ruth (Hartzell) Salmon and departed this life Saturday, February 9, 2008. Her early childhood was spent in rural western Nebraska. She started school in a one room country school house in Perkins County Nebraska, later moving into Grant. During this time she was active in 4-H and Girl Scouts. In 1952 her parents returned to a farm in Clay County. She attended school in Harvard and was active in 4-H and her church youth organization. In 1954 the family moved into Aurora, where she sang in the church choir and served as Worthy Advisor of Auro Assembly #16, Order of the Rainbow for Girls. She graduated from Aurora High School in 1958. Shortly after graduation, she moved to Grand Island, Nebraska, and worked in the coffee shop at the stylish Yancy Hotel. In 1959 she joined the United States Women's Army Corp, and served in Alabama, Texas and North Carolina. On July 1, 1960, she was united in marriage to Kenneth Chaudoin of Lubbock, Texas, at the home of her parents in Aurora. The newlyweds left immediately to make their home in Lubbock, moving to Dallas in 1969. While her husband completed his undergraduate studies at Texas Tech, she held the offices of Secretary and Treasurer for the Tech chapter of the National Association of University Dames. She was employed as a Human Resources/Payroll/Benefits Manager for many years with several large Dallas companies and was a member of the Dallas Personnel Association. She was a member of Shiloh Terrace Baptist church in Dallas and was active in her Sunday School and sang in both the sounds of Praise and People of Praise choirs. Her hobbies included soap and candle making, and she was an avid NASCAR fan. No children were born to this union. Preceding her in death were her parents. Survivors include her husband Kenneth of Dallas, her brother Neil Salmon and his wife Linda of North Platte, NE., her nephew Shad Salmon and his wife Holly of Aurora, NE., her nephew Troy Richardson and his wife Patricia of San Antonio, Texas, her niece Annette Salmon of Doniphan, NE., numerous c ousins, other relatives and friends. Following a service at New Hope Chapel in Sunnyvale, Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. Graveside services and burial will be at the Aurora Cemetery in Aurora, Nebraska. Visitation at New Home Funeral Home, Monday, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Mission East Dallas, 2914 Oates Drive, Dallas, Texas 75228, American Heart Association or American Cancer Society.