Thursday, October 1, 2026
Mary Ellen “Mert” Doutt Bloomquist, 100, passed away on January 27, 2026, in Leavenworth, Washington. For 100½ years, she lived a life full of love, friendship, and humor. This past July, she celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by friends and family who gathered from near and far to honor her.
Mert was born on July 5, 1925, to William A. Doutt and Elma Opal Dodson Doutt, the fourth of nine children, growing up in Independence, Missouri. She cherished her childhood near Doutt’s Lake, a recreational swimming lake owned by her family, and often spoke fondly of those years.
Vergil E. Bloomquist was the love of her life. They met at age 13 in Grand Lake, Colorado, where Verg grew up, and stayed connected through letters over the following years. They were married in 1945 following his return from service in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After the war, they settled in Independence, Missouri, where they raised their two sons.
Mert devoted time to her relationships and to the people she loved. For many years she enjoyed daily walks and coffee with friends. She lived with a deep, quiet faith, finding meaning in service and in the faith communities of the churches she attended. She was an accomplished quilter and an active member of her local quilting guild in Independence. She did beautiful work with her hands, including appliqué, embroidery, beading, and other crafts, and she passed this creativity and craftsmanship down to her children and grandchildren. A prolific letter writer, Mert stayed in touch with longtime friends and her large extended family. She delighted in family photographs and displayed them proudly.
Verg was a skilled craftsman who loved woodworking and was known for creating roadrunners from golf clubs. He was very detail oriented and precise in everything he did. His work years included 27 years at Dupont, home remodeling, and various business endeavors. He enjoyed fishing, playing golf, and watching many sports. One of the great joys of his later life was participating in a documentary about his service as a radioman with VT-11 aboard the USS Hornet.
Mert and Verg were deeply devoted to one another and shared a life filled with laughter and companionship. In retirement, they enjoyed traveling and visiting friends and family across the country. In 1992, they purchased a summer home in Leavenworth and divided their time between Independence and Leavenworth. They were married for 76 years until Verg’s death in 2022.
They are survived by their sons, Dennis Bloomquist and Chris Bloomquist; daughters-in-law Beth and Cleo; three grandchildren, Bergen Bloomquist (Wendy), Cody Koenig (David), and Casey Bloomquist; and six great-grandchildren, Brynn, Luke, Aidan, Oliver, Sofia, and Harriet.
The family would like to thank the staff of Mountain Meadows Senior Living for the wonderful care and opportunities for social engagement that brightened Mert’s last years.
