Merton J. Oakes

MMMMMMMert was born in Sioux City, Iowa in 1932 and moved to Burton Homes in Vancouver, WA in 1941, with his mother and father at the age of 9.

He leaves behind his two daughters Pam and Cindy Oakes, 3 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

Mert graduated from the old Vancouver High School on 26th & Main Street in June of 1951 and married his high school sweetheart Norma V. Wiley on June 24th of the same year. Mert and Norma first met in the sixth grade. They were married for 73 loving years at the time of Norma's passing in 2024.

Mert Served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War as an Aircraft Electrical & Environmental Systems Specialist on B-29 bombers, with the fifth squadron ninth bomb wing and was a member of the American Legion.

Mert had three jobs during his life; Alcoa Aluminum for 3 months, Columbia River Paper Mill for 15 years and Vancouver Welding supply Co. for 30 years where he drove cylinder truck up and down the Columbia gorge twice a week for 10 years. He hauled all the welding supplies to build the John Day Dam from start to finish, the managed the Cryogenics gas plant for 20 years before he retired in July 1994.

Mert and Norma had a getaway at Lake Merwin Campers Hideaway where they loved to go boating, fishing, water skiing and barbecuing with family and friends. He also liked to deer hunt and play golf with his two grandsons. The thing he enjoyed the most was lovingly giving family and friends a bad time and playing jokes on them.

A Chapel Service will be held on Monday, November 3, 2025 from 3:00PM - 5:00PM at Evergreen Memorial Gardens, located at 1101 NE 112th Avenue Vancouver, WA 98684