These amazing members of our Merry Glen Staff are our SHINING STARS. They have our respect and ever-lasting gratitude for EVERYTHING they continue to do for our family of Loved Ones living at Merry Glen.
THANK YOU
AMANDA KONCHEL
Amanda has been with MG for 10 years. Her 4 daughters have grown up with the Loved Ones; Alexandria, age 12; Sophialynn is 6; Gabriella is a busy 3 and Annika is about to turn 4 months old. She & her husband Gabe had a ‘star-wars themed’ wedding!!
If she had to pick a guilty pleasure, it would be eating lobster. She is a Michigan Wolverines fan and loves country music. Amanda recently discovered a love of gardening because if she can be by herself in the garden, she finds peace & even a little quiet time! Iced Vanilla Latte, thank you very much, and Christmas is her favorite holiday. Her dream vacation is sitting somewhere warm, drink in her hand, the kids playing on the beach, and a beautiful sunset in front of her. “The family atmosphere is the best part of Merry Glen…”
McKYNZIE SHIPLEY
McKynzie has been with MG for 4 months and coming to work each morning to see these happy faces is a joy! She & Dallas have 3 kids: Taylin is 8, Madelyn is 3 and Alexander is 1……PLUS one on the way! This is a busy home. MacKenzie River Pizza Co. is one of her favorite restaurants & loves coffee as a ‘Grasshopper with white coffee’! McKynzie would love to visit Venice and give me Halloween all year long, dressing up & the kids having so much fun. She loves MG and all the great personalities and happy faces.
ANGELA SCHOCK
Angela has been married to Beau Morehouse for over 18 years with 2 kids, Oakley is 16 and Journey is 7. She’s lived in Spokane her entire life & loves all things Chicken Wings! This family is “all about baseball” and Angela loves being a “Sports Mom”……most of the time! No coffee or tea here….’give me my Squirt!’ They have 2 dogs & 2 cats, and their home is full & active. Angela is new to MG this year and simply loves the group atmosphere. “It’s like working with a close-knit family. I just love it here.”
SHAWN LeBRET
Shawn has been proudly serving MG for 23 years! His wife Misty has been by his side for 22 years and they have 2 daughters, Cheyenne & Sierra, BOTH working at MG. “When we brought our daughters home from the hospital, the first stop, before home, was to bring each one to Merry Glen to share our miracle with the Loved Ones and the Staff. They are family. Where else would we go first?” And their daughter has carried on that tradition when she gave birth to Shawn’s first granddaughter 6 months ago…..first stop, Merry Glen! In his off-time, Shawn loves working on his cars. And give him black & bold coffee and a dark Micro-beer! His favorite restaurant is Tecate Grill, camping with the family, and Stateline racing. If he could go, Shawn would love to visit Ireland. Shawn’s favorite part of MG — “the way the Residents LOVE. What they GIVE to people. They don’t hold a grudge. They just love.”
NICHELLE MORTAMER
Nichelle has been with MG for 2 years. She loves the residents & the varied personalities they show…. “they brighten my day.” She loves to paint & share crafts with the Loved Ones.
ALICIA LAWSON
Alicia has a fun 2 year old daughter named Lucy Sky. She loves all kinds of music, but is hooked on THE BEATTLES!!! She is a Spokane Native, going to Shadle HS. If she could, she would love to travel around the world, spending the majority of her time in Africa. Anytime she & Lucy can go out & enjoy the parks, look for them there! She loves her Raspberry Iced Tea and eating at The Red Robin. Alicia as been at MG for 1 1/2 years and enjoys socializing with both the amazing staff & the Loved Ones. “They are all so nice, so funny, and so caring”
LESLIE (Holmes) BLACK
Leslie & Jesse just got married a month ago. There are 5 kids, 2 Parakeets and a 7-month old Husky-Shepherd mix, so their home is busy & full. When (and if) she gets down-time, Leslie enjoys reading & is hooked on coloring with gel pens. She would love to visit Ireland and Halloween is her favorite holiday of the year. Pryor’s Rustic Restaurant is her go-to eatery…”the clam chowder is to DIE for…” And she’ll take her coffee ‘Iced, white & blended’ thank you very much!
Leslie has been with MG for over 3 years and adores all the loved ones. “I have a special bond with most of them & wouldn’t trade that for the world”
JESSICA CHELES
Jessica has been with MG for about 2 months, transferring to MG from our DayBridge team. She has been with Christopher for over ten years. They have 2 children, Weston, 8 and Lily age 6. Jessica has been in Spokane for about 6 years, moving here from Arizona. She loves dogs & have two little ladies named Gia & Haley May. She loves coffee ice-cream shakes from The Wake-Up Call and vacations out of town with her precious family. And she really enjoys working out with free-weights. Jessica loves the residents that she serves and their love of life. She feels MG is an amazing place to serve & grow.
ASHLOND SELLS
Ashlond has been with MG for a little over a year. She has been with Tomas for over 7 years & they have set their Big Day for April, 2022! She moved to Spokane from Arkansas. They have a dog named Rico & the boss of the house, Precious, the cat. She LOVES the rolls Essi makes with strawberry & lemon glaze. Thanksgiving is her favorite holiday, but just “let me travel!” Ashlond just can’t sit still, unless she’s watching “The Vampire Diaries” on Netflix. What she loves the most about working at MG is “all the new things I learn from the Loved Ones. I try to teach them new things, but they teach me every day.” She wouldn’t change a thing, telling me “This place is as awesome as it gets!”
TENA OWENS
Tena has been married to Sean for 32 years and has 2 kids, Sara and Justen, who also works at MG. She grew up in Chattaroy and moved to Spokane at age 18. She has 2 adorable cats named Mookie & Jassie. Tena loves comedy movies and eating at Tomato Street Restaurant. Her dream vacation is Hawaii, sitting on the beach & loving the view! She has been with MG for 3 years and loves not only the residents, but her fellow-workers. She told me “this is the best job I’ve ever had”! And Tena has an almost PERFECT ATTENDANCE!
HEATHER COX
Heather has been at Merry Glen for over 11 years. Her humor & loyalty have always been admired. She has 2 sons, Zeshawn, age 14, and Javon, this year a H.S. senior, missing ALL the activities and excitement that SHOULD be included in his senior year at Lakeside. We know this won’t help, but “CONGRATULATIONS JAVON”!!!
Heather is a “sports-mom” making basketball her favorite. She loves camping at Riley Creek on the banks of the Pend Oreille River. No cream in this girl’s coffee and the endless fries at Red Robin is her favorite part of going out for dinner. “The Loved Ones I work with always make me smile”, this is family for Heather and for her kids.
KIA BURRAGE
Kia has been with MG for 4 years. She has a 2 year old James, who loves coming to visit & ‘hang’ with the residents. She’s lived in Spokane her entire life, and loves Tomato Street, especially ‘Uncle Tony’s Pasta’. Kia enjoys playing volleyball & her quiet time includes painting, crocheting & sewing. Spring is her favorite season & would love to go to Iceland. Her favorite thing about MG is watching the life the Loved Ones celebrate and their laughter, which is infectious.
ESSIE SUNDLIN
Essie has worked in the kitchen at MG for about a year now. She loves to cook and it shows in the treats she makes the residents! She has 2 young children: Myles, age 13 and Melady is 9 years old. There also is Whiskers, a 16 year old cat that runs the place!
When she gets to go out, she enjoys The Onion Restaurant. Iced coffee is her favorite, but if you can find her an Espresso Milkshake, she would be forever grateful!
Her favorite part of working at MG is when she treats the residents with special treats and delicious food.
CORY HAMPER
Cory is a private person and loves being a part of MG.
He’s lived in Spokane for quite awhile and been with his wife for over 25 years. He loves his coffee and Christmas is his favorite holiday to celebrate with family & friends.
The Loved Ones at MG are his favorite part of his job,
“…watching them grow and thrive….”
GINA WILLIAMS
Gina has worked at MG for 7 years. She’s been in Spokane for over 20 years with her 3 children: Courtney, who use to work at MG, Tierra, currently working at MG, and 13 year old Jermane.
She enjoys eating at the Olive Garden and drinking Kona Coffee, “black please”. Christmas is Gina’s favorite holiday and if she could, she would love to vacation on Maldives, for as long as possible! The Loved Ones at MG are her favorite part of working here and love each one for their own special personality.
JUSTEN OWENS
Justen has been with MG for just 6 months, but like his mom, Tena, he loves this place! He has 2 nephews that he dotes on! He loves to go to The Mustard Seed and Tomato Street. His specialty is Tacos and really enjoys creating fun dinners for the Residents. Justen prefers Iced Tea and Christmas with all the trimmings. Italy would be his ideal vacation spot, the longer the better. Video Games is his great escape and enjoys basketball, no matter the season!
Justen loves watching the Loved Ones faces when they taste his food and say “I love this”! I bet they do!