Merrill Wilson Vann

1919 - 2009

Merrill Wilson Vann was born August 9, 1919 in Upper Lake, CA and died on March 25, 2009 in Lake County. He was 89 years of age. Mr. Vann's parents were Grover Harrison "Harry" Vann, and Agnes Wheeler Vann. Both parents were from pioneer families who arrived in Lake and Mendocino Counties in the 1800's.
Mr. Vann attended Upper Lake schools, graduating from Upper Lake Union High School with the class of 1936, and attended college at Chico State. He spend his youth and early adult life working as a trapper in Lake county, and working with his father, Harry, on the Vann family ranch on Elk Mountain Road.
In 1952 Mr. Vann took a position with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, relocating to Nevada and working for the government as a mountain lion hunter. He traveled the state working with ranchers to track and kill lions that were threatening cattle and sheep. He and his family lived in Elko and later in Garnerville, NV. He made many friends among the ranchers and sheepherders, and other cowboys throughout the state. He kept this position for many years, eventually returning to CA in 1966, taking the position of Director of Animal Control for Mendocino County in Ukiah. He lived and worked in Ukiah until his retirement from the county, when he returned to Upper Lake to work cattle on the Vann family ranch. Later, after the sale of the Vann Ranch, Mr. Vann continued in the cattle business, running a cattle operation with his partner, Dan Howard.
Even into the later years of his life, Mr. Vann loved working the cattle, often riding out with friends to feed or round up cattle. For years he attended the Reno Rodeo and other smaller shows wherever he could. He especially loved the bull riding event, and followed the careers of his favorite riders avidly. His favorite was Ty Murray, and he watched this young man's career from the very first, even winning a chance to attend an awards dinner in Las Vegas where he met the man whose career he had followed so closely.
Mr. Van is preceded in death by his parents, his son Harry LeRoy Vann, his brother Carroll Vann, and his sisters Clorine Vann Story and Thelma Vann Griner.
He leaves behind his daughters Georgia Page of Gardnerville, NV and Virginia Papaioannou of Briarcliff Manor, NY; grandchildren Teri Ouilette, Nick Quilette, Stephanie Clark, Josh Page, Katy Page, Margie Guzman, Chloe Schama, and Gabriel Schama; nine great-grandchildren; and five great great-grandchildren. He also leaves behind many beloved nieces and nephews, and a sister-in-law, Phyllis Price Vann. Memorial services will be held at the Upper Lake Methodist Church at 11 a.m. on Saturday April 4, 2009. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be sent in Merrill's name to: Upper Lake Volunteer Fireman's Association, Box 1133, Upper Lake, CA 95485-1133, or UNICEF www.unicefusa.org
Arrangements entrusted to Jones Mortuary.
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