The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Merlin Homer Durrah was born March 31, 1940, in Longview, and died at home surrounded by his wife, Judy, and family on October 15, 2023.

Merlin worked for Crown Zellerbach as a mechanic for many years and then drove log truck until Crown went out of business.

He was a board member for the Wahkiakum West Telephone Company for over 30 years. He was also the sexton for the Grays River Cemetery beginning in 1983, after his uncle Norman Durrah died.

Merlin lived his entire life in Grays River and knew a lot of the family history, which he passed on to his kids and grandkids over the years.

He is survived by wife of 58 years, Judy (Kinney); his sister Darlene (Carlos) Perez of Silverdale; his children Kimberly DeJesus of Grays River, John (Stacey) of Woodland, and Kevin, of Grays River; grandchildren Ashley (Juan) Alejo of Warrenton, Ore., Tawnie DeJesus of Hammond, Ore., Samantha (Luis) Morales of Warrenton, and Caleb, Carlie, Caitlin, Cooper, and Cole, all of Woodland; and great grandchildren Gabriella, Alexis, Arabella, and Jayden, along with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.