Juan Servin and Merrill-Lee West-Servin

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Juan G. Servin, aged 82, and his wife, Merrill-Lee West-Servin, aged 83, both from Sacramento, CA. Together for over 50 years, they shared a tremendous journey, having touched so many of our family and friends with memories that will always be cherished and never forgotten.
 

Juan was born on April 1, 1942, in Stockton, CA, to parents Rosa Gomez and Juan Palacio Servin. He attended Norte Del Rio High School in Sacramento, CA, where he ran track. Juan then went to American River College before being drafted by the Army. He served for 4 years, including a deployment to Vietnam from 1966 to 1968. After the war, he became adept at carpentry and auto repair and eventually had a successful career in the equipment sales and rental industry that spanned over 30 years. After building a retirement home in El Dorado Ranch, San Felipe, B.C., Mexico, his twilight years were spent peacefully enjoying hitting golf balls on the range and hanging out with friends near their coastal home.

Merrill-Lee was born April 2, 1941, in Glendale, CA, to parents Doris Elaine Martin and Merrill Clifford West. Merrill-Lee attended John Burroughs High School in Burbank, CA, where she excelled in art and crafts. She received her Associate of Arts Degree in fashion design at LA Trade Tech, landing a costume design job at NBC Studios. She eventually moved to Nevada, where she started The Smiley Hat Company, specializing in beanies, engineering, and newsboy hats. After meeting Juan, she and her children relocated to Sacramento, where she continued to apply her sewing design talents for over 30 years under several labels and companies that included design and tailoring for wedding dresses, formal attire, choir robes, and plus-size fashion.  Beyond apparel, she was known as a teacher, home economist, real estate agent, influencer, and after retirement, an award-winning master quilter. Her works of art and quilting kits were showcased and sold at conventions and shows up and down the West Coast.

Juan and Merrill-Lee are survived by their three shared children Sabrina Peterburs, Edward Shaffer and Holly Alford-Hart; seven grandchildren, including Hannah & Sophia Peterburs, Mikayla & Trey Shaffer, Austin & Sydney Hart, Calvin Alford; and one great-grandchild, Oliver Hart. Additionally, Juan is survived by two brothers, Pete Servin Martinez & Ruben Servin, and many other relatives including cousins, nieces and nephews.  

Inseparable even in death, we will be holding services for Juan and Merrill-Lee on March 7, 2025, at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, 5810 Midway Rd, Dixon, CA 95620, at 9:30 am. Following the service, we will have a celebration of life at Ruhstaller Farm & Brewery, located at 6686 Sievers Rd, Dixon, CA 95620.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Juan Servin and Merrill-Lee West-Servin, please visit our floral store.