Tribute

On the morning of Wednesday, July the 4th, 2012 Merle Simon passed away suddenly at the East Kootenay Regional hospital at the age of 84. Merle was born in Starkweather, North Dakota on February 17, 1928. His family moved from North Dakota in the 1930”s to Anacortes, Washington.
During WW 2 ,Merle served in the US Navy.
Merle had many different jobs as a young man…..salesman, electrician, carpenter…. A jack of all trades and he could build or sell almost anything!
In 1959, the call of the Canadian Rockies brought him and his family to Skookumchuck, B.C. from California to try his hand at running the S half diamond dude ranch on Premier Lake along with his life long friend, Rad Hartwell. After the S half diamond venture, he built the S-S ranch on the Lucier River and, with his wife Ev, raised Quarter horses, farmed and even started an egg business with over 2000 laying hens.

Merle and Ev became avid team ropers with Merle the header and Ev the heeler. To fulfill their passion for roping, they built the Hayshed Barn indoor riding arena at Mayook and from that started the Hayshed Trailer manufacturing business. The business was eventually sold so that he could retire…but retired life didn”t suit him. In 1997 he started the Hayshed Too trailer business in Cranbrook.
His passions in life were family, horses, building, quadding, travel and especially classic country western music and dancing with the love of his life Ev. .Merle will be sadly missed by all his Washington State family, his good friends and his quadding buddies.
Merle leaves to mourn his passing his two sons, Rod (Mary Kay), Randy (Marcey), grandchildren Justin, Matt and Jessica and 3 great grandchildren. Merle also leaves his brothers-in-law Allan (Marni) and Fred (Char) Miller, three sisters-in-law Joan Unruh, Jean (Ernie) Funk and Gloria (Lou) Rogers . Merle had a special place in his heart for Ev”s nieces and nephews. All of them were a great help and comfort to him after the passing of their Aunty Ev.

A memorial service will be held for Merle on Monday, July 16, 2012 at 2:00 P.M. at Mark Memorial Funeral Home, 2024 Industrial Rd. No. 2, Cranbrook, BC. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon, #101, 105 – 9th Ave. S., Cranbrook, BC V1C 2M1. Condolences may be left for the family at www.markmemorial.com.