Merwyn Earl Hannah

Merwyn "Merv" Earl Hannah passed away peacefully on September 21, 2024, with loved ones by his side. He was predeceased by his wife, Mary, and his brothers, Russell, Stanley, and Lawrence.

Merv was born in Hanna, Alberta, where his family farmed. Later, in the 1930's, the family moved to Kamloops, British Columbia, where Merv attended school and enjoyed a strong social life, attending such memorable events as skating parties on frozen ponds and hiking up local mountains such as Mount Paul with close chums. As a teenager he was eager to start work and his early jobs included learning how to pave for the new Kamloops airport, assisting an engineer up the old Cariboo Highway, and supervising a small crew at the Navy Dump (where TRU is now located). He then settled into driving freight up the Cariboo for George Buckham's Kamloops Freightways.

Around this time he met Mary Meynell and they married in 1952. After the arrival of two children they moved to Vancouver in 1958 and Merv managed a trucking terminal for Chapman's Transport. Merv was a natural leader and people-person,and his winning ways made him well-liked. He was also open to new experiences and Vancouver provided him with many unique opportunities to meet new people and experience new cultures. In later life he had many interesting stories of the people he met and places he visited during his time in Vancouver.

After seventeen years in Vancouver Merv and his family moved back to Kamloops where he had many happy and exciting years working for the Forestry service, training people in emerging technologies such as new computer systems and managing firefighting supplies.

Merv is survived by his sister, Colleen Heslop, children Bryan (Lorraine) and Judy (Len), his grandchildren Nicole, Erin, Ashley, Bradley, and Fiona, nine great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

Merv was a talented woodworker, who also enjoyed snowmobiling, camping, and watching the CFL. While in Vancouver, he also served as a Cub Scout leader where he taught young people valuable wilderness skills and, in addition to being a dedicated family man, Merv was very fond of dogs and always had a loyal canine companion. A service will be held for Merv on October 17 at Greenfield Manor (1835 Greenfield Avenue), Kamloops, BC, at 11 am.