Merle L. Fullner

Merle Leroy Fullner, 81, passed away unexpectedly at home on December 30, 2025.
Merle and his twin brother Marv were born to Loraine E. Fullner and Eileen A. (Gooding) Fullner on July 29, 1944, in Bellingham, WA. Merle was a proud 1962 Mount Baker High School alum and attended Bellingham Technical College after graduation. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves and completed basic training at Fort Ord, Ca. and military police school at Fort Gordon, Ga.
Merle loved family. He stuck around the family farm on Siper Road into his late thirties before falling madly in love with a librarian from California named Sheryl. They met at church, kissed on their first date, she ordered her wedding dress, and that was the beginning of 45 wonderful years together. They moved into a house a mile away from the farm and quickly began making it their home. It was a rare day that Merle didn't visit the farm, driving the tractor, loading firewood, or just visiting his mom and brother Marv and his wife Kris's family. Family reunions and get-togethers were a regular occurrence, and every few years he would pack up the Coachman motor home to make the pilgrimage to Forks, WA. to visit the Gooding side of the family.
Church was extremely important to Merle, and one was never enough. His mom first carried him into Hopewell Community Church at age 3, and he remained on the board there until his death. He was also very active at Christ Fellowship Church for many years. He was a leader of a local Overseas Missionary Fellowship prayer group, and Merle and Sheryl hosted a steady stream of missionaries in their home as they traveled through on furlough, visiting and reporting to their supporters. He was a part of the men's prayer group at Christ Fellowship and got together regularly with a group of men at Master's Blend in Everson.
Merle worked for many years as the press foreman at the Lynden Tribune. Since part of his job was setting lead type on the old newspaper press, he got to read the news upside-down before anyone else did. Even after retirement, printing remained a part of his life, and he enjoyed tinkering with printers and making vintage-style prints. Both Sheryl and Merle found themselves to be enthusiastic collectors; historic artifacts, '57 Chevy memorabilia, old radios, paper poppers, and all manner of other fun ephemera decorated his office and the log cabin that he built for Sheryl.
Merle was always puttering away on some project or other. Their property was dotted with labors of love, including a potting shed, greenhouse, tiki hut, and log cabin for Sheryl and two treehouses for Paul. His side interests included prowling Ebay, growing ferns, and taking photos around the home place.
Merle is survived by his wife, Sheryl (Kindle) Fullner of Everson, twin brother Marv Fullner and his wife Kris (Johnson) Fullner of Nooksack, son Paul Fullner and his wife Emily (Briggs) Fullner of Everson, grandchildren Jay Fullner of Bellingham and Brynn Fullner of Everson, nephews and nieces Sandi, Susie, Bob, Eric, Sara, Tad, and Heidi, and numerous beloved great and great-great-nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Merle was preceded in death by his parents Loraine Fullner and Eileen (Gooding) Fullner, daughter Melody Fullner, sister Myrna (Fullner) Henifin, and nephew Dale Henifin.
A memorial service will take place at 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Christ Fellowship Church (1208 E. Main St, Everson), with a reception to follow. Interment will take place at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery near Merle and Sheryl's home.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services.