Merrill Clark Dean, 83

In the early morning hours of Aug. 5, Merrill Clark Dean, 83, was called home to our Heavenly Father.

Merrill was born in South Bend, Ind., to Mortimer and Jeanette Dean. His love of connecting with people started at an early age. He was the son of an Army chaplain and moved often. These moves took the family to Wisconsin, Minnesota and Texas, where his sister, Mary Lou, was born.

At 12 years old, the family moved to California. Merrill loved surfing every morning before school. At 13, he was the youngest ham radio (K6OXU) to get his license. He attended University High and graduated in 1959.

He stayed close to home for college, attended UCLA and joined Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He graduated with his bachelor's and master’s degrees in 1966. Following college, Merrill served in the United States Air Force.

After returning home, he was hired by the Disney corporation. This new role took him to South America, where he lived, learned Spanish and realized a love for travel. On a return trip home, he met a beautiful flight attendant named Tamara Tisdale. They were married Oct. 30, 1971. Their first daughter, Lauren, was born in 1980, and their second daughter, Leslie, in 1983. New jobs took the family to northern California and Scottsdale, Ariz., which Merrill would call home for 25 years.

Following retirement, he settled down in Idaho, which is closest to his family. Merrill loved summers at the lake and cheering for his grandsons on the baseball field.

Merrill and Tammy were married for 52 years. He is survived by his daughters, Lauren (David) Everson and Leslie (Scott) Renna; grandchildren Kyle, Hunter and Brendan Everson; sister Mary Lou Dean; and brother-in-law Thomas Tisdale. He was preceded in death by his parents.

A celebration of life will be held next summer on Lake Coeur d’Alene. Please visit Merrill’s online memorial and sign his guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.