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- Lewiston Morning Tribune (ID)
December 17, 2014
Berkeley Merkling of Lewiston died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014, at Life Care Center of Lewiston.
Berkeley was born June 13, 1932, in Pendleton, Ore., although the family lived at Pine Grove, Ore., at the time. He attended school in Pine Grove in a one-room schoolhouse, completing six grades in five years by doing second- and third-grade work in one year. At the age of 11, in 1943, he and his family moved to Pendleton, where he completed his high school education, graduating in 1949. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1950. He served in Korean waters during the Korean War as a radar man, second-class.
He was married to Donna Carol Smith in Lewiston in 1951. Upon his discharge from the Navy in 1953, the couple made their home in Lewiston. He began employment with Standard Stations in Lewiston, later transferring to Pullman in 1955, then to Pasco in 1956, where he managed a station until 1966. He then transferred to the motor transport division of Chevron Oil Co. while in Pasco, and later moved to Spokane in 1969. He remained employed by Chevron until retirement in 1992. He and his wife then moved back to Lewiston.
Berk enjoyed playing guitar and singing with the Banana Belt Fiddlers, and other musical friends at nursing homes, retirement homes and various other special functions. He emceed at many of these events. He wrote a lot of beautiful gospel songs and sang them for church services. He was a good Bible teacher, filling the pulpit at the Country Church in Clarkston as interim pastor for one and a half years.
He is survived by his wife, Donna; and two children, son Christopher of Spokane and daughter Suzanne Morrow of Granby, Colo.; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Preceding him in death were his mother, Daphna Merkling; father Donald Merkling; brother Roland; and two sisters, Barbara Furniss and Mona West.
His greatest joy was sharing the deep truths of scripture with fellow believers. His love for God's word will be a cherished memory and a shining example for his wife and family. His favorite scripture was John 17:3 - "And this is life eternal that they might know thee, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou sent." This has now become his reality, experiencing the fullness of his Heavenly Father. "He is absent from the body and present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8). Go joyfully into the arms of Jesus, my love.
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1932 - 2014 (82 years)
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