Grace Storey Merlo

GRACE STOREY MERLO Grace Storey Merlo, 90, of Cortez, Colo. died peacefully on July 17, 2015 in her home under the care of her devoted nephew and kind staff from Hospice of Montezuma. She was born Grace Margaret Storey to the late Albert E. and Grace M. Storey on March 27, 1925, in Lynndyl, Utah. After graduating from high school in Las Vegas, she attended UCLA and later the University of Nevada in Reno where she received a Bachelor of Arts in 1951 after working her way through college at Western Union. In 1954, she fulfilled a dream from the age of five as she graduated from San Francisco Law School with a Bachelor of Law as one of only two female students in a class of about 150 students. Grace had met gender discrimination with the quiet dignity she maintained throughout life. She studied diligently to ensure meeting Professor Carson's most challenging questions, often directed at her with the intent of tripping up this woman daring to enter the legal field. She met his every question and all other challenges with skill. After getting her Bachelor of Law, she continued working for Western Union in New York City. She left the company in 1957 when a man lacking legal experience took a position she was better qualified for, and she then returned to San Francisco to work with an insurance company, later hearing Western Union regretted not promoting her. As she prepared to take the bar exam in California, she encountered Professor Carson again who predicted she would not pass the exam. She passed on her first try. She then worked at the law firm of Hea and Anderson in San Francisco for about 6 months. When she left to do more trial work as a Deputy Public Defender in San Bernardino County in California, her employer at Hea and Anderson indicated he would hold her position open for six months. Six months later, he called to ask if she wanted her old position back, but she was happy doing trial work, which she did from 1961 to 1968. As the first woman Deputy Public Defender in San Bernardino County, much was made of it; news articles were written, creating a good deal of uncomfortable focus on her. Fortunately, she won her first trial. Pressure was increased by a District Attorney who was not above using some "dirty tricks," trying to trip up this woman public defender. Time proved her competency and the DA's tactics sometimes backfired with jury sympathy swaying her way. She left this position with strong letters of recommendation, including from the DA's office, which expressed such sentiments as her competency was "equaled by few and most certainly surpassed by none" and that she had the "highest ethical standards." In 1968, she married fellow lawyer, Samuel Merlo, and moved to Cortez, Colorado and prepared to take the Colorado bar exam. Sam was very proud of Grace's intelligence, but a fellow lawyer predicted she wouldn't pass the exam, and once again she passed on her first attempt in 1970. She then became the first woman public defender in Montezuma County at the Colorado Public Defender's Office for about 18 months. She and Sam opened an office as Merlo and Merlo in 1971, a partnership maintained until Grace was appointed District Judge in 1987, once again Montezuma County's first woman in this position which she held for eight and a half years until her retirement in 1995. This work history cannot fully express the degree of respect Grace gained professionally. When she retired, her peers spoke of her wisdom and the degree of dignity she gave to each person entering her court. Her wisdom and gentleness in spirit were balanced by a firmness and sense of accountability. Women entering the law field today are indebted to women such as Grace Storey Merlo who with dignity and perseverance pried open closed doors, changed mindsets, and proved gender is no indication of competency in any field. Grace is survived by a son and his wife, Anthony and Lynne Merlo of Boulder, Colorado; a son and granddaughter, Mark and Samantha Merlo of North Las Vegas, NV; a sister-in-law, Charlene Storey of Las Vegas, NV; two surrogate daughters, Peggy Mancuso of Minneapolis, Minn. and Rochelle Whitney of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and many devoted nieces and nephews, including her caretaker David Storey. She was predeceased by her parents, Albert and Grace Storey; husband, Samuel J. Merlo; her sisters, Frances G. Stevenson and Mildred J. Palmer; and her brothers, Albert E. Storey, Jr. and Donald M. Storey. Donations in Grace's memory may be made to the charity of one's choice. A service will be held at a later date.