Merrill Spence

Merrill Harold Spence, 99, passed at his home Aug. 18, 2024. A few years ago, Merrill composed the following obituary: 

Merrill was born Nov. 19, 1924, to Harold and Mary Spence in Seattle, Wash. 

He attended high school in Seattle. A week after graduating from Lincoln High School in 1943, he was in the U.S. Army. She served the 305th General Hospital in France, the Philippines, and Japan and was honorably discharged in 1946. He attended the University of Washington under the GI Bill, majored in fisheries and graduated in 1950.  

He didn’t get good grades in college; however, in the last semester, he got an A-plus. That is when he and Betty were married in December of 1949. Then he was hired by the Washington State Game Department, and they moved to Puyallup, Wash., where he worked for several years as a fish hatchery assistant and then as a fish biologist. It was there Carolyn, Bob and Richard were born.  

In 1961, the family moved to Ephrata, Wash., where he was the Regional Fish Biologist in the Columbia Basin Area until retiring in 1980. Merrill and Betty served in congregations of the Church of Christ through the years in various ways: Merrill as one of the elders and at times preacher, and Betty taught children’s Bible classes, as long as they were able. They were blessed with wonderful friends throughout those years and have had many great vacations with their family. “God blessed us beyond measure.” 

In April of 2020, Merrill began composing a weekly page of selected scriptures. He added a portion of a hymn to form a theme. He typed them on his computer from his Bible and songbook and mailed them to encourage others. He completed four years of weekly scriptures. He was not able to complete year five, but he did type the theme he had chosen onto the page. It was “Let the Word of Christ Dwell in you Richly.”  

He is survived by his wife of 74 years, his children, Carolyn (Chris) Metcalf and Bob (Bobi), Richard (Whitney), six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and his sister, Mildred Ball.  

There will be a private family graveside service at Valley View Memorial Park, Soap Lake, Wash. 

Arrangements are under the care of Nicoles Funeral Home, Ephrata, Wash. Please leave your thoughts and memories for the family at https://bit.ly/4dMp4DP.