Merle F. Harnden

Merle F. Harnden passed away April 14, 2004, at the age of 96. Born on October 9, 1907, in Oklahoma, Merle was the eldest of nine children, Lucile, Theola, Dorothy, Phyllis, Ruth, Phillip, Ray and Don.

Merle was a lifelong resident of Humboldt County, where she spent her early years of life, after graduating High School, raising three children along the banks of the Trinity River, until the flood of 1955 washed away the Abarr home in Cedar Flats.

Merle and her first husband, Carl Abarr, had a wonderful life together, until Carl passed away suddenly in 1959. Years later, Merle met and married Herbert Harnden, of Willow Creek, and they spent many years living at the Harnden Mill on Berry Summit. When Herb’s health began to fail, they moved to Happy Camp for a few years before moving to Arcata in the early 1980s. When Herb passed away, Merle moved to the Blue Lake trailer park and was a regular walking along the banks of the rivers fly fishing, or taking her daily walk to the Post Office.

When Merle was in her early 90s, she fell and broke her hip. She went through rehab and was able to go back to her home for a short period of time before falling a second time. After her second fall, she tried but was unable to fully bounce back to her usual spry self. Merle spent the last several years of her life living at Sunbridge Pacific Healthcare Center on Harrison Avenue, under the care of Dr. Dawson and the wonderful staff there. Thank you all for your loving care.

Those who knew Merle knew that she loved to sew, read her Bible, hunt rocks during the summer in Arizona, and she was also well-known for her square dancing. Merle was avid at fly fishing and could be found on the banks of the local rivers and streams of the North Coast, no matter what the weather. If Merle or her family wanted fish for dinner, off she would go to catch their dinner. As Merle’s health failed, she would sit for hours telling stories of her travels and her fly fishing.

Merle was preceded in death by her parents, Blanch and Smith Pock; two husbands, Carl Abarr and Herbert Harnden; three of her children, Shirley Lucas, Carl Lyndon (Lyn) Abarr and William (Bill) Abarr; grandchild, Danny Abarr; and a great-grandchild.

She is survived by Danny’s family, Lynn Abarr and their children, Carl and Shiela Abarr, Michael and Lynda Abarr, Angela and Eric Schmidt, Paul Lucas, Carol Hoehn, Cherie Christensen; and numerous great and great-great-grandchildren. She will be missed dearly by Bob and Barbara Downing, Donna and Jerry Councilman, Joanne Abarr, and those who were blessed to have known her.

As Merle requested, she is to be cremated and placed in the Abarr family plot at the Weaverville Cemetery on a date to be later determined.

Arrangements are being made under the direction of Chapel of the Ferns Cooper Mortuary in Eureka.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Merle’s name to Sunbridge Pacific Healthcare Center in Eureka.

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