J. Merritt Matkin

J. Merritt Matkin passed away on March 13, 2013, at the age of 84, from a battle with Cancer. He was born in Plentywood, Montana on May 18, 1928. He moved to Spokane, Washington with his parents in 1944. He spent 16 years in retail sales of agricultural irrigation and dairy farm equipment. He then started work in the wholesale field and served as pump and irrigation division manager for a wholesaler branch operation located in Spokane. In 1966 he was transferred to the company headquarters in Seattle where he served in the same capacity. He was a founding partner in Hydra Tech Inc, a wholesaler in the pump and water systems industry located in Seattle. The business was sold in 1988 and he continued to work for the new owners until his retirement in 1994. He is survived by one son, Richard Matkin, one daughter, Lorie Betts, a stepdaughter Maryanne White, a stepson, James McClellan, a sister Alta Michlik, a grandchild, Tyson Matkin, step grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. His only brother, Dallas preceded him in death in 1996. A Memorial Mass will be said at St. Madeleine Sophie church in Bellevue, on April 5th, at 11:00 am. No flowers please.