Darlene Merrill

DARLENE MERRILL
October 21, 1950 ˜ February 17, 2023

Surrounded by her family, Darlene went to heaven on Feb. 17 in Encinitas, CA, following a brief battle with cancer. She was 72. Born and raised in Vancouver, Darlene graduated from Columbia River High School, attended Clark College, and worked for 35 years in the family business.
Darlene inadvertently met Mike while out on a date. Sparks flew, and after four days together she said yes to his reportedly feeble proposal. They were married at age 20; way to young, and just kids madly in love for sure, but as the decades unfolded, their love for each other turned obstacles into speed bumps and their marriage lasted for 52 happy years. Darlene was the yin to Mikes yang. Not adventurous by nature, she was a true trouper who stood by Mike through good times and bad. 26 years old, and with a 2-year-old, (Tory) and 4-year-old (Tyler), when Mike announced that he was quitting his job to start a business, all she told him was: “I believe in you and know we’ll do just fine”. There were “train wrecks” along the way for sure, but they did “just fine”.
Darlene’s family was everything to her. In the early years she humored Mike by making many motorcycle trips including across the US, most of Canada, and to Mazatlán and more. Having had to take cover during the Felix drug cartel shoot out with the Policía Federal Mexicana, she soon after informed Mike that her riding days were over. Against her instincts, but so she could be with her family, she also joined Mike and the Boys on ocean fishing trips, dirt bike trips, ski vacations (she didn’t ski), and clam digging expeditions. She did love family boating trips to the lake, river, and San Juan Islands. Her real joy though was the RV trips she took with Mike while acting as navigator and cook. She and Mike traversed the US, all told racking up well over 100,000 miles along the way. Their annual trip to Livingston, MT, to park in Tory and Keely’s yard was her very favorite of all.
Vancouver was and will always be her home. One of the last promises to her was to take her home in her RV via the scenic coast highway. After her gravesite service a happy celebration of her life will be held for those who wish to attend. Details will be announced soon. She is survived by her husband, Michael; sons, Tyler and Tory (Keely); and two granddaughters, Reese and Tatum. Darlene will be laid to rest at Evergreen Memorial Gardens in a gravesite service on Saturday, July 8, 2023, at 1:00 p.m.
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