Merrie grew up in California, where she and her husband Steve had three children and six grand children. She volunteered in numerous non-profits including community theater, Project RIDE therapy for children and CASA. Fed up with liberal politics, they moved to Texas in 2020 as did two of their children and their families.
Merrie has been and election clerk, volunteered at Comal Republican headquarters, joined the Republican Club of Comal County as well as the New Braunfels Conservatives, where she served a Community Outreach Chair in 2024.