Merle Reeves Beckley

Merle Reeves Beckley, 89, passed away August 16, 2004 in Moses Lake, Wash. He was born March 11, 1915 in Twin Falls, Idaho to Walter Montgomery and Nina Mildred (Reeves) Beckley.

Merle graduated from Twin Falls High School. He married his high school sweetheart, Isabelle Nettie Miller in 1935. They were married for 69 years at the time of his death.

They made their first home in Twin Falls and farmed in the area. In 1949, they moved to Parma, Idaho and farmed there until 1957. They then moved to Warden, Wash., where they resided until 1998. At that time, Merle and Isabelle moved to Moses Lake, where they have resided since.

Merle, over the years, was a farmer, warehouse man, water district ditch rider, manager of a farm chemical distributorship, and a hog buyer for a meat-packing firm. He also served as a city council member in Warden and served that community as mayor from 1988-1992, and was reelected for his second term, from 1992-1996.

He is survived by: his wife, Isabelle; children, Merle Walter (Ruth) Beckley of Rochester, Wash., Donald Miller (Sharon) Beckley of Moses Lake, David Ray (David Sorber) Beckley of Vancouver, Wash.; brother, Lee Arden (Jean) Beckley of Kennewick, Wash.; sister-in-law, Delora Beckley of Othello, Wash.; and nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two daughters, Millie Ann at birth in 1937 and Mary Ann Johnson in 1992, brother, Cecil, sister, Hazel (Earl) Bent, and his parents.

Merle's ashes will be interred at the Twin Falls cemetery.

A gathering (open house) of family and friends will be held at the Warden Senior Center from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, August 28, 2004 to commemorate his life. The family welcomes all who wish to attend.