Donald Keith Merritt passed away at the Cottage in the Meadow in Yakima, on Thursday morning, November 21st, 2013 due to bladder cancer and kidney failure.
Don was born on September 28, 1927 at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, here in Yakima, to Arthur Leslie and Agnes Meyer Merritt. He was the middle child with an older and younger brother.
He attended McKinley Grade School, Franklin Jr. Hi, and Yakima Sr. Hi, graduating in 1946. He was in the Marine Corps the last days of World War II.
Always interested in cars, he worked at Traub Brothers Auto Parts, moving with them to Pasco when they opened a store there in 1947. There he met his future wife, who worked right around the corner at Central Motors Ford Dealership.
His employment career consisted of Seeburg Buick, Pasco, in 1951 moving to Spokane where he was employed at Chase Engineering, Washington Machinery & Supply, United Motors Service, Division of General Motors, all of Spokane. In 1959 he moved back to Yakima and purchased Traub Brothers, which he operated as Merritt Motor Supply until 1981. He then was employed with National Federation of Independent Business, Central Washington Homebuilders Association and Washington Growers League. He retired at 82 years of age.
Not having been involved in Christian things as a child, at 25 years of age he accepted the Lord as his Saviour and worked all of his life to show. God's love to others in his teaching Sunday School, Bible Studies, Promise Keepers, In the Divorce care and related classes. He had so many friends from all of those contacts and his business contacts. He has now reached his most precious desire, to be with his Lord.
In March of 1948 he married Ruth Jakstadt, whom he met working next door to" Traubs in Pasco. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this past March.
They have six children: Gary (Irene) in Stuart, FL., Joyce (Dan) Tucker, Moxee, Keith (Jean) Longview, Bob (Colleen), Selah, Doug (Judawn), Prosser, Mark (Becky), Yakima. He was always very proud of the children; their work ethics and their accomplishments. The same for the grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife Ruth, six children and their spouses, 30 grandchildren, including their spouses and come May 25, great-grandchildren.
His younger brother, Glenn, and his wife Sara, survive him. His parents and older brother Arthur died before him.
A celebration of Don's life will be held at 10:30 A. M. on Saturday morning, at Sun Valley Church, 2002 E. Mead Ave. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sun Valley Church or Calvary Mission. Keith and Keith are in charge of all arrangements.
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